The Bangladesh national football team is likely to play a FIFA friendly match against North Korea on May 14 as part of their preparation for the World Cup qualifiers. The decision was revealed by the BFF president Kazi Salahuddin on Sunday after an hour-long meeting with the national team committee and national team coaching staff, led by the nation team coach Lodewijk de Kruif.‘We are planning to play two international friendlies, one against Afghanistan and probably one against North Korea,’ said the BFF president.
Bangladesh are expected to play against Afghanistan on June 4, six days before their World Cup qualifying match against Kirgizstan.
The BFF said it received the proposal from North Korean football officials during the AFC regional Congress in the Bahraini capital of Manama on April 30.
‘They [North Korea] have shown their interest to play a friendly in Dhaka against Bangladesh on May 14. This is the only date when they will be available to play,’ BFF general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag said.
Shohag added that they are now considering rescheduling the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League to give the national team some time to prepare for the match.
The first-leg of the league is scheduled to end on May 21.
-With New Age input
