Dhaka – A 30-member Bangladesh Under-19 Men’s Football team will leave Dhaka for Bahrain on Monday (Nov 4) morning at 9:50 am to play in the qualification round of the AFC U-19 Championship’2020 beginning on Wednesday (November 6) .
Bangladesh, who put in Group E along with Jordan, Bhutan and hosts Bahrain, will play host Bahrain on November 6, Jordan on November 8 and Bhutan on November 10, all at the Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Manama.
Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) announced a 30-member final squad — 22 booters and eight officials — at a press conference at BFF house in Motijheel on Sunday.
Team Leader and BFF member Md Shawkat Ali Khan Jahangir, BFF General Secretary Md Abu Nayeem, Team Manager Md Amer Khan, Head Coach Andrew Peter Turner and Vice-Captain Md Fahim Morshed addressed the press conference.
Bangladesh finished runners-up in the five-team SAFF U-18 Championship 2019 conceding a 1-2 goals defeat against India in the nerve shattering final in September in Nepal.
After their SAFF Championship, Bangladesh u-19 team played in a Tri-nation International Friendly Football in Qatar involving hosts Qatar U-19 team and Kuwait U-19 team in October and lost both the matches.
Team Manager Amer Khan said the U-19 booters earned confidence and boost-up after playing in the tri-nation friendly matches ahead of their upcoming AFC qualifiers in Bahrain.
About their preparations, Bangladesh Head Coach Andrew Peter Turner said, “I’m very much hopeful and looking forward to continue our recent performance that we earned from SAFF U-18 competition.”
“Bahrain and Jordan are strong opponents, but we’re confident to do our best there. I believe that we can beat them” Andrew added.
Vice-Captain Fahim Morshed said, “We’ve gathered a lot of experiences from SAFF and tri-nation tournaments. These will help us in Bahrain. I believe we’ll get good result in the AFC qualifiers.”
After playing the qualifying round in Bahrain, defender Yeasin Arafat will fly for Al Seeb city of Oman to join Bangladesh national football team on November 11 to play FIFA, AFC joint qualifiers while the rest of team will return home.
Bangladesh U-19 Football team: Md Mohiuddin, Mitul Marma, Shanto Kumer Ray, Yeasin Arafat, Uttam Chandra Roy, Sadekujaman Fahim, Kazi Rahad Mia, Rakibul Islam, Tnabir Hossain, Md Nazmul Hossain Akondo, Md Ridoy, Fahim Morshed, Md Emon Ali, Md Sagor Hossain, Dipok Roy, Md Jamir Uddin, Foysal Ahmed Fahim, Omar Faruq Mithu, Samrat Ahmed, Naiyem Hossain, Nihat Jaman Ucchash, Maraz Hossain and Amir Khan Bappi, Md Emon Khan.
Officials: Md Shawkat Ali Khan Jahangir (Team Leader), Md Amer Khan (Team Manager), Andrew Peter Turner (Head Coach), Md Rased Ahmed (Assistant Coach), Qazi Altaful Haq (Assistant Coach) and Md Mohsin Kabir (Physio), Khalid Mahmud (Media Officer).UNB
