Bangladesh hoped to produce at least one upset when they play in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers, which gets underway at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on May 21.
The Bangladesh Football Federation announced a 22-member squad for the Group B qualifiers which also included Thailand, Iran and the Philippines.Bangladesh are the lowest ranked side among the four teams with Thailand (29) being the favourites. Iran (53) and the Philippines (83) will
also fancy their chances in the competition which will see one team moving into the final round scheduled to be played sometime in 2014.
Bangladesh coach Golam Jilani was unsure which team they will target though he oozed some confidence while announcing the team.
Bangladesh have been training for the last one and half months for the tournament and played their warm-up matches in Kolkata where they won two games and lost one.
The squad that was announced comprised 17 senior players, most of whom have the experience of playing international matches, four U-19 players and one U-14 player.
‘Initially they were lacking fitness and endurance but we have overcome both things with hard training,’ said Jilani at the official press conference at the BFF House on Sunday.
‘Now we can expect to produce a surprise result, if the day belongs to us,’ he added.
Captain Suinu Pru Marma also echoed the same sentiment although she emphasised on giving a good show before home crowd.
‘You all know that other participating teams are ahead of us in terms of ranking but we don’t want to give them any space in the ninety-minute games,’ said Suinu Pru Marma. ‘However, we will be trying to show better football in front of home crowd.’
Squad: Sabina Akter, Muslima Akter Moly, Rowshan Ara (goalkeepers); Khaleda Khatun, Baly Khatun, Suravi Akter Eity, Asia Khatun Bithi, Trishna Chakma, Suinuching Marma, Tumpa Moni, Shajeda Khatun, Laboni Akter (defenders); Sharmin Akter Rupa, Maynu Marma, Mirona, Zhumu Akter Shanu, Nuby Ching Marma, Suinu Pru Marma, Monika Chakma (midfielders); Sabina Khatun, Aungmraching Marma, Munmun Akter (strikers); Syed Golam Jilani (coach).
-With New Age input
