AFC Challenge Cup
Enamul, Wali dropped
Striker Enamul Haque and defender Wali Faisal have been excluded from the 20-member national team picked by coach Robert Rubcic yesterday for the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers in Myanmar scheduled for March 21-25.
The Croatian chose half of the players from the Under-23 side that played two pre-Olympic Qualifying matches against Kuwait recently while the rest have been picked from among the seniors, most of whom Rubcic had earlier criticised for their performances in the Asian Games.
Like off-form Enamul and Wali; striker Zahid Hasan Emily, winger Zahid Hossain, defender Nasirul Islam and some of the others picked have also been performing poorly in the ongoing professional league yet retained their places in the side for the AFC Challenge Cup squad.
“Enamul does not run as much as a striker should do. Furthermore, he is not in form. Wali has also been kept out due to his poor form,” explained assistant coach Shafiul Bari Titu quoting head coach Rubcic for axing Enamul and Wali.
However, Tito defended the inclusion of Emily by saying: “Emily has been kept in the side as an experienced striker along with upcoming Mithun Chowdhury and Shakawat Hossain Rony.”
Last year, Bangladesh qualified for the AFC Challenge Cup finals under the guidance of Edson Silva Dido and later finished bottom of the group despite upsetting Tajikistan in one of the matches under the guidance of Titu.
Bangladesh will train for three days on home soil before leaving for Myanmar where Group A contenders hosts Myanmar, Palestine, Bangladesh and winners between Philippines and Mongolia will lock horns.
Courtesy of The Daily Star
