Bengal Tigers Roared At Bangabandhu Stadium

Bengal Tigers Roared At Bangabandhu Stadium
…. Saleque Sufi ….

A determined Bangladesh Football team playing a wonderfully exciting brand of football defeated a very strong Thailand team 1-0 to advance into the final of the Bangabandhu gold cup tournament at Bangabandhu national stadium. Bangladesh plays Malaysia in the final on Sunday,8 February . The all-important goal was scored by defender Nasir Choudhury from a flick off a Mamunul Corner.
We saw the strong resolve in the eyes of every Bangladeshi footballer at morning and evening over the last few days as we were staying in the same Dhaka hotel. They were determined to put their best and appeared very confident .Every single Bangladeshis were wishing and praying for them. They always asked to pray for them .I advised them to put in their best and do not care much what happens. Wehad the pride privilege of witnessing the Bangladesh Football team playing wonderfully entraining football at jam-packed

Bangabandhu National stadium. Dominating the match all through Bangladesh Football team surged into the final of the Bangabandhu Cup football tournament .They earned a date with Malaysia in the finals.
Bangladesh could have by a much larger margin had there been a couple of quality and experienced strikers as many goal scoring opportunities came their way through out the match. While talking to this writer a few members of the team talked about BFF making provision for limiting the numbers of foreign forwards playing in domestic league . It may be mentioned here most of the leading football clubs in local league bring foreign footballers especially in the forward line .Talented local youngsters hardly have opportunities to play quality football matches in the local league.

Bangladesh lost the first match with Malaysia in the first match but bounced back strongly in the second match beating Sri Lanka. Thailand showed their skills and strength in trouncing Bahrain 3-0 and were favorites to win against Bangladesh.
But a determined Bangladesh playing wonderful coordinated football turned the tide on the stronger opposition .They domination was absolute as Bangladesh midfielder’s Jamal and Mamunul hardly allowed any space for the fast moving thai forwards to build any attack .On the other hand Jamal and Mamunul kept their forwards on their toes with wonderfully precise passess .Zahaid on the right wing was probing all the way. Several chances were created .But goal shy Bangladesh frontline failed to capitalize .Bangladesh front liners either hesitated to unleash the last strike or delivered weak punches. Finally defender Nasir could break the ice flicking a pass from Mamunul to capitalize incessant tigers surge (1-0 ).

Several more half chances came to Bangladesh .But Thailand could kept the hungry Bangladeshi forwards at Bay. Thailand also unleashed few moves through quick passess among the quality forwards. We were really impressed from well-coordinated Bangladesh performed .Most of the Bangladesh attacks were engineered from deep defense the front liners continuously swapped positions , wingers moved with pace and often penetrated deep. When required, mobile midfielders fell back quickly aiding the very compact deep defense..Bangladesh defense could successfully absorb several probing Thai attacks with timely interceptions.
A jam-packed Dhaka stadium enjoyed the resurgence of Bangladesh Cricket team. Dhaka stadium yesterday made this writer nostalgic about the golden past in late 1960s and 1970s when local football used to attract gallery filled crowd to cheer the footballers.

Let us hope that Bangladesh can maintain the tempo and get across the last hurdle and win the Bangabandhu gold cup. Football in Bangladesh will hugely benefit from such a major injection of success for sure.