National football team coach Lodewijk de Kruif picked four strikers in Zahid Hasan Ameli, Sakhawat Hossain Rony, Toklis Ahmed and Wahed Ahmed in his 26-member squad for the forthcoming Thailand tour, which gets underway on July 27. Ameli is the most seasoned striker in the squad, already having featured in four SAFF Football Championship tournaments, while De Kruif chose Rony and Toklis after impressive displays in the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers in Nepal four months ago.
Wahed, who ensured the Super Cup title for Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited last season, attracted the attention of the Dutch head coach during the ongoing practice camp, having scored three goals in two warm-up matches.
Ameli bagged 22 goals for treble-winning side Sheikh Russell Krira Chakra in the recently concluded season, while Abahani Limited striker Rony was the top scorer among local strikers in the Bangladesh Premier League with seven goals.
Young BJMC striker Toklis confirmed his spot in the squad after registering seven goals for his side in the 2012-13 season.
Before the Super Cup
kicked off on June 14, Wahed spent most of his time on the bench due to the presence of foreign players. After the Bangladesh Football Federation decided to organise the third edition of the cash-rich Super Cup without foreign footballers, Wahed seized his opportunity.
Wahed notched three important goals to announce his arrival on the big stage. As the Black-and-White outfit lifted their second Super Cup title in three editions, Wahed was the highest goalscorer.
‘I have experience of playing in the SAFF tournament four times but only on one occasion did I make the final [2005]. With my bagful of experience, I believe that if we want to become the champion we have to work together as a unit,’ said Ameli, who scored two goals in a practice match against the BFF XI on Saturday.
‘Everybody is very serious about ensuring their place in the team. Everybody is trying hard to impress the coach. It can only be good for the team,’ he added.
Rony is suffering from a groin injury he incurred during the last stages of the BPL and did not take any part in the Super Cup.
‘I started training with the main group today [Tuesday], but I am scared to shoot the ball as I am suffering from a lack of confidence,’ said Rony, ‘But it’s an ongoing process. With each passing day I vow to improve and increase my confidence level.’
In the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers, Toklis played as a lone striker but in the SAFF preparation camp, De Kruif instructed him to play on the wing.
‘Usually I feature as a left winger in the domestic level but in the AFC tournament I played in the forward position. Though, the head coach is now trying to fit me in the left or right wing after hearing about my preferred position from the local coaches,’ said the 20-year old Toklis.
De Kruif was a bit amused to see Wahed in the practice match and included him in his plans after observing Wahed’s tenacity in the attacking areas.
‘Wahed is a very difficult player for every defender because he is always busy and always appears angry in his game and I’m a bit surprised. I saw him playing in the Super Cup for the first time but nobody told me about him before,’ said the Dutch coach after the first practice match where Wahed hit two goals past Team BJMC a week ago.
‘I am trying hard to seal my place in the main team and I am hopeful that if I get the chance I will play better football for the country,’ said 22-year old Wahed, who confirmed his commitment to play for Mohammedan in the upcoming season.
-With New Age input
