A new chapter of the Bangladesh national football team was unfolded on Tuesday when their newly-appointed Italian coach Fabio Lopez was introduced to his charges as the players reported for national team duty. All 41 players from the preliminary squad apart from expatriate Jamal Bhuiyan, and injured Yeasin Khan, Hemanta Vincent Biswas and Shahedul Alam Shahed, reported to the coach either personally or over phone.
The training of the national team for the upcoming World Cup qualifying match against Kyrgyzstan will begin today after
the arrival of assistant coach Costantino Zuccarini and fitness coach Angelo Pavia.
Though Lopez did not disclose anything about his training schedule, captain Mamunul Islam believes the coach will give emphasis on the players fitness and discipline.
The 42-year old Italian told his charges that they will be selected according to their merit on the field.
‘He told us that all 41 players are equal to him and he will prefer those players who will perform in the pitch,’ said Mamunul.
‘So, this will be a new challenge for all players now to prove their worth and secure a place in the final squad.
‘It is a new chapter for us and now we will have to start afresh. We all have to perform to impress the new coach.’
The announcement of Lopez means that no-one was guaranteed for a place in the final squad for Bangladesh’s World Cup qualifier against Kyrgyzstan in Bishkek on October 13.
It may also pave the way for the players who are trying to get their places back into the national fold.
Mamunul also believes that there is no limit of learning and if they can combine the things
they learned from their
last coach Lodewijk de Kruif and the things that they will acquire from Lopez — they can reach new height.
-With New Age input
