Footballers will get only four days for preparation before leaving for China on November 5 to take part in the Asian Games to be held in Guangzhou.
The 16th Asian Games is scheduled for November 12 to 27 but the event of football gets underway on November 7 and Bangladesh will take on Uzbekistan on the same day.
Bangladesh will then face United Arab Emirates on November 9 before playing the last group match against Hong Kong on November 11.
Bangladesh’s Croat coach Robert Rubcic is apparently frustrated with the performance of the national players in the ongoing Federation Cup, which will end on October 30 with the final between Abahani and Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club.
All through the tournament, Rubcic had been expressing his frustration to the journalists but now it’s been learnt that he has been shocked to see the players of Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club’s playing at a walking pace.
Of the 20-member squad, as many as 14 are from Sheikh Jamal while the rest come from Muktijoddha Sangsad, Abahani and Mohammedan.
However, the 47-year old coach has been convinced by his coaching staff that the boys would come up with their best once they come under the umbrella of the national squad.
Rubcic has also said expressed dissatisfaction over the state of the players who looked tired because of Federation Cup’s hectic schedule right after a grueling month-long residential camp at BKSP.
SQUAD
Aminul Haque, Mazharul Islam Himel, Mintu Sheikh, Rezaul Karim Reza, Ariful Islam, Mamun Mia, Nasirul Islam, Wali Faisal, Atiqur Rahman Meshu, Shahedul Alam, Imtiaz Sultan Jitu, Shakil Ahmed, Abdul Baten Komol, Mamunul Islam, Zahid Hossain, Zahed Parvez Chowdhury, Zahid Hasan Emily, Enamul Haq, Touhidul Alam Sabuz and Mithun Chowdhury.
Standby: Nehal, Sujan, Sweet, Mezbabul Haque Manik and Monayem Khan Raju.
