Dhaka – With the hope to reach the 2nd round, Bangladesh Under-16 Football team will fly for Qatar on Monday afternoon to participate in the Group E matches of the AFC U-16 Championship’2020 Qualifiers beginning on Wednesday at Aspire Dome Indoor Stadium in Doha. Earlier, Bangladesh were put in Group E of the AFC Junior meet along with Yemen, Qatar and Bhutan.The Bangladesh team will play hosts Qatar on Wednesday (Sept 18), Bhutan on Friday (Sept 20) and Yemen on Sunday (Sept 22), all at the Aspire Dome in Doha.
A 31-member Bangladesh team comprise of 23 booters and eight officials.A press conference was held at the BFF House in Motijheel on Sunday where Bangladesh team leader and BFF member Bijon Barua, BFF member and deputy team leader Amit Khan Shuvra, team manager and former national footballer Mohammed Mohsin, head coach Robert Martin Ryles, assistant coaches Abul Hossain and Jahan E Alam Nury and key player Jony Sikder were present.
Addressing the press conference, the Bangladesh team leader said, “Our U-16 team emerged SAFF champions in Sylhet and Nepal earlier and this time we expect a good result from them.”
Robert Martin Ryles said, “Our team are well-prepared. They also played some preparatory matches here. Now we’re looking for the challenge of the AFC U-16 Champs. It’ll be a good test to judge our players.”
Replying to a query, he said, they are in optimum level and the competition in tough. “Anything is possible. It’ll be good to win to qualifying for the 2nd round.”
Bangladesh defender Jony Sikder said they are looking for a good result to reach the 2nd round.The 23-member squad: Md Mehedi Hasan, Rafsun Jamy Mim, Mehdi Hasan Srabon, Al Mirad, Apurbo Mali, Jony Sikder, Mohammad Azizul Hoque Ananto, Md Pias Ahmmed Nova, Md Emon Islam Babu, Sirajul Islam Rana, Sajed Hasan Jummon Nijum, Sayed Nayeem Ahmed, Kazirul Islam Hridoy, Md Rajib Hossain, Hafizur Rahman Tushar, Md Rabiul Alam, Md Ali Shakib, Saiful Islam Sumon, Asadul Molla, Siful Islam Saeed, Tauhidul Islam Sifat, Sabbir Ahamed Moni and Moniul Islam Moni.UNB
