Bangladesh U-20 national football team will leave for Nepal today to take part in the SAFF U-20 Championship scheduled to be held from August 18-28 in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.
The Bangladesh team, the three times runners-up in the 2017, 2019 and 2022 editions of the championship, is pitted in group A along with Sri Lanka and host Nepal while group B consists of defending champions India, the Maldives and Bhutan, reports BSS.
Six teams, split into two groups, will take part in the regional youth football extravaganza -- which has been held five times before, involving U-18, U-19, and U-20 age groups -- from August 18 to 28 in Kathmandu.
Bangladesh will start their tournament campaign by taking on Sri Lanka in their group opening match on August 20 and play their ultimate group match against Nepal on August 22.
After the group phase matches, the top two teams from each group will qualify for the semifinals which will be held August 26. The final of the tournament is slated for August 28. All the matches will be held at Dasharath Rangasala Stadium.
Bangladesh have kept their sights on the elusive trophy of the SAFF U-20 Championship, despite having less than a two-week preparation under the guidance of coach Maruful Haque.
Maruful began training with around 35 footballers on July 31 at Birshreshtha Shaheed Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur before moving the camp to the Bashundhara Kings Arena, as the Army made the former a temporary camp due to the country's deteriorating situation at the time.
After a training session on Wednesday, Maruful was expected to select a 23-member squad from the trimmed list of 27 players, most of whom have featured in Bangladesh Premier League. Of the 27 players, only five came from the Bangladesh Championship League and two from the BFF Elite Academy.
"Though I initially aimed to reach the final, after observing their dedication and focus during nearly two weeks of preparation, I see the hunger in the boys, and I think they will fight for the championship," said UEFA-licensed coach Maruful at an official press conference at the BFF house on Wednesday.
Maruful informed, "As the Bangladesh Premier League ended two months ago, most of the players have been idle. It was challenging to bring the players up to fitness. We had two sessions of fitness and tactical training in the first 10 days, and the remaining days comprised single training sessions.
"I believe the players, most of whom played in the Bangladesh Premier League, are experienced and talented in the context of Bangladesh. The dedication, effort, and energy they have shown in training are positive signs, and I believe we can aim for the championship."
Team leader Khandokar Rakibul Islam and players Shakil Ahmed Topu and Mirajul Islam also spoke on the occasion.
