SA Games: Bangladesh Football team reach Nepal

A 24-member Bangladesh Football team have reached Nepal from Dhaka on Wednesday to take part in the 13th South Asian (SA) Games beginning on December 1 in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu and tourist town of Pokhara.

Manager of Bangladesh Football team Satyajit Das Rupu said Bangladesh team including 20 booters and four officials will fly for Nepal on Wednesday with a hope to play final.

"Bashundhara Kings have finally released their eight players of the team enabling us to fly for Nepal on Wednesday,  Bangladesh coach  Jamie Day, is now in England, will directly join the team on the same day," Rupu said.

When asked about their next plan, Rupu said, "Our 8-day residential camp was canceled earlier, now, we don't have enough time to hold a camp. We will make our training sessions in Nepal eyeing to play initially in the semifinal and later in the final."

Bangladesh have been placed in Group A along with Nepal and Bhutan while Group B comprises of Sri Lanka, Maldives and India.

Bangladesh team will play hosts Nepal in the opening match on December 1 and will take on Bhutan on December 3 in the 2nd and last group match, both at Dasarath Rangasala Stadium in Kathmandu.

Besides, a 22-member Bangladesh shooting team, including 17 shooters and five officials, also reached Nepal on the day. 

Chief Executive Officer of Bangladesh Shooting Sports Federation (BSSF) Mustaque Waise said, "BSSF formed a 25-member team for the ensuing SA Games. Of them, three shooters Abdullah Hel Baki, Rabbi Hasan Munna and Robiul Islam will not accompany the team, they will join the later."

Bangladesh Football team: Anisur Rahman, Pappu Hossain, Mahfuz Hasan Pritom, Yeasin Khan, Bishwanath Ghosh, Tutul Hossain Badsha, Rahmat Mia, Riyadul Hasan, Yeasin Arafat, Sushanto Tripura, Jamal Bhuiyan, Biplu Ahamed, Rabiul Hasan, Mahbubur Rahman, Md Al Amin, Nabib Newaz Jiban, Saad Uddin, Rakib Hossain, Arifur Rahman and Mohammad Ibrahim.

Officials: Jamie Day (Head Coach), Satyajit Das Rupu (Team Manager), Stuart Paul (Asst Coach), Robert Mimms (Asst Coach) and Amirul Islam (Team Official).

Bangladesh Shooting team: Syeeda Atkia Hasan, Ummey Zakia Sultana, Sharmin Akthar Ratna, Abdur Razzaq, Shakil Ahmed, Md Sabbir Alamin, Ardina Ferdous, Anjila Amjad Antu, Nilufa Yeasmin, Md Shovan Chowdhury, Md Ramjan Ali, Md Yusuf Ali, Nafisa Tabassum, Turing Dewan, Md Rayhanul Islam, Ershad Hossain and Shariful Islam.

Officials: Md Osman Gani (Team Manager), Ferdousi Parvin Poly (Team Manager), Saiful Alam, (Trainer), Kim Il Yong (Trainer) and Jahangir Hawladar (Team Official).