Bangladesh Under-16 women’s football team coach Golam Rabbani Choton on Thursday hailed the collective effort of his charges that he said spurred them to success in the ongoing AFC Under-16 Championship Qualifiers. Hosts Bangladesh registered three successive wins in their first three matches of group C to set up a potential group decider against Chinese Taipei on Saturday.
Chinese Taipei also maintained hundred per cent record so far and with only one team to qualify from the group, making the match between the two teams pivotal.
Choton refused to give credit to any individual player and praised all his players for their combined effort.
‘This group of players is staying together for the last two years, so they have a good understanding between each other,’ said Choton after an hour long recovery session at the Bangladesh Football Federation Astro-Turf.
‘We saw our players from every position scored in the last three games, which meant we don’t have any fixed scorers, the girls are scoring whenever they get chances. It is a positive side for us.’
Even a draw will keep Bangladesh’s hopes alive to qualify in the final stage but Choton said he is not thinking anything but win.
‘We never take the field for a draw against any team,’ said Choton.
‘All players are in good mood after three successive wins. The best players were given rest today to recover from fatigue but the reserve bench had full swing training today [Thursday].’
Choton, who didn’t allow any player to talk with the media to avoid any distraction, expressed his confidence after watching his charges improving match by match.
‘In the first match, my instruction was to put pressure from the first minute and they did it p erfectly but they missed a lot of chances against Iran,’ he said.
‘In the second match against Singapore, the girls recovered a bit and scored goals but in the third match against Kyrgyzstan, they dominated fully and availed most of the scoring opportunities that came to their way. It is a good sign.’
Choton said his team is not feeling any extra pressure before facing Chinese Taipei in the crucial encounter.
‘I watched all three matches of Chinese Taipei and we must respect them.
‘Playing against Chinese Tapei is not any pressure for the girls as they have been playing in same tempo. I think the match will be very competitive.’
-With New Age input
