Bangladesh’s journey towards the Asian Cup reached a critical point on a rainy afternoon in Dhaka as the national side held their first training session for the decisive clash with Hong Kong, China. Spirits remained high despite the weather as Javier Cabrera’s side prepared for what could prove a decisive encounter in Group C.
Goalkeeper Mitul Marma, who missed the September friendly against Nepal with injury, spoke of his determination to contribute. “We are preparing well and trying to give our best as Hong Kong, China are a tough team,” he said. “I feel okay now and I think I can give my best for the country.”
Mitul emphasised the fierce competition within the squad. “All our positions are very competitive so there is no way anyone can take their place for granted. We have been watching Hong Kong’s recent matches and setting our plans accordingly. We hope to win both games against them but the first one at home is very crucial.”
He admitted more match practice would have been ideal but stressed the team’s focus. “Since the start of the qualifiers we were talking about this match. During the league games players prepared themselves mentally for it. This is a do-or-die situation if we want to qualify. We want to forget about rankings and just bring our best.”
Sohel Rana picked up where Mitul left off, praising the passion of Bangladesh fans. Tickets for the match sold out within just 24 minutes, and he knows what that means. “This is a very positive sign for Bangladesh football,” he said. “It brings a lot of responsibility on us to deliver. In Singapore we saw the same thing, the crowd expected a win but we lost. Now we are focusing on victory to keep our hopes alive and fulfil their expectations.”
Sohel also spoke about the battle for midfield spots. “The more competition we have, the better it is for the team. It is nothing personal, it strengthens us.” Reflecting on the defeat to Singapore, he admitted lessons had been learned. “We made some big mistakes in that match. At international level if you make silly mistakes, the opposition will take advantage. Our coaching staff have marked those mistakes and we worked on them. I believe we can avoid them and if we play without committing them then we can win.”
The group standings add to the pressure. Singapore and Hong Kong both sit on four points, with Singapore ahead on goal difference. Bangladesh are third with one point from two matches, while India also have one point but trail on difference. Only the group winner will qualify directly for the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Cabrera will soon welcome reinforcements. Foreign-based stars Hamza Choudhury and Shamit Shome are expected to arrive on 6 October, adding steel and creativity to the midfield alongside Fahamedul Islam. Hamza, an icon for Bangladeshi footballers worldwide, is seen as a major boost for the team at this critical stage.
