BD U-19 to fly to Iraq with high hopes
Dhaka, October 3: Bangladesh U-19 head coach Rene Koster believes his team has the ability to qualify for the final round of the AFC U-19 Group C that is to be played in Iraq from October 8.
Rene Koster was confident to do well. “My expectations are that we will do well. I watched the video of Iraq, Kuwait, Palestine and of course they are very good opponents but I’m only looking at my team and my team is preparing well. Every training and every match we play, we are getting better and better. Hopefully we will do well in Iraq and qualify for the tournament in Myanmar. That is our goal.
“I have a lot of faith in my team. This team is good as a team and also good as individual. Sohel Rana injured, he is the only player who cannot play” added Rene Koster.
Koster remained focused on the job. “Of course, our goal is to qualify for the next round. But youth football is about to process and our main target is 2015. In this group there are many talented players and many of them will make into national team in two years. So that is the main target to gain international experience. Iraq is a very good team and they won the tournament two years ago.We didn’t play enough international matches so I don’t know how we are when we play outside. Target is to be number one or number two in the group. We would be very disappointed if we don’t make our target.
Bangladesh flies to Iraq tomorrow and plays against Iraq, Kuwait and Pakistan on 8th, 10th and 12th October respectively.
Bangladesh U-19 Sqaud- Toklis Ahmed, Abdul Malek, Didarul Alam, Atikur Rahman Farhad, Md. Hossain Shujon, Hadisur Rahman, Md. Mezbahuddin, Najmul Islam Rasel, S.M. Monjur Rahman, Md. Naeem, Rakibul Islam, Md. Salahuddin, Tutul Hossain Badshah, Ahsanul Haque Milon,Nurul Quaiyum Faisal, Rubel Miah, Hemanta Vincent Biswas, Md. Jewel Rana, Md. Mithu and Md. Ibrahim. Team Leader- Arif Khan Joy, Coach- Lodewijk de Kruif, Head Coach-Rene Koster, GK Coach- Cornelius Kalk, Fitness Coach- Muhammet Yamali,Assistant Coach- Mahbub Hossian Roxy, Team Doctor-Tanvir Ahmed. Media Officer-Ashikur Rahman.