Before the crucial clash against Singapore, Javier Cabrera’s team wants to warm up with the Bhutan match.
Around the BFF office, on social media, and inside and outside the National Stadium, there’s an unprecedented buzz about football. When was the last time such enthusiasm was seen? There’s no recent example. Since Hamza Chowdhury donned the Bangladesh jersey, everything has changed like a feast! Football, long buried under the dust of failure, seems to be coming back to life. The important match against Singapore aside, the Bhutan game has now also become a center of attention.
At the revamped Dhaka National Stadium, Bangladesh will face Bhutan on Wednesday at 7 PM in a friendly match. On June 10, this same stadium will host the ‘high-voltage’ third round Asian Cup qualifier against Singapore. So the Bhutan game serves as a ‘dress rehearsal’ before the real battle begins.
But the visitors aren’t going to be pushovers. Bhutan’s Japanese coach Atsushi Nakamura praised Bangladesh in the press conference but made it clear they will give their all to win.
“Bangladesh is a much better team now. They are physically strong and can handle pressure well. Bhutan’s players are not as strong physically. The pitch at the National Stadium is very good. I hope for a good match. Of course, we want to win. But I don’t know if we will. We will give our best.”
“We played our last two matches against Bangladesh at home, where we had the advantage of altitude. That won’t be the case here. The weather here is very humid and hot. We trained in the heat yesterday. I expect it to be quite hot tomorrow as well, so overcoming that challenge will be important. Hamza is a very good player and playing against him will be a good experience for our boys.”
Nima Wangdi, another team representative, echoed similar sentiments. Referring to last September’s two friendlies, he said Bangladesh has transformed with Hamza’s presence and has become South Asia’s best team.
“Everyone in South Asia knows Bangladesh is strong. Last year, we played two friendlies on our home soil. We lost the first 1-0 but won the next by the same margin. But the Bangladesh team is different now. They have three foreign-based players. Hamza is a very good player playing in top leagues. So, I believe Bangladesh is the best team in South Asia.”
For Bangladesh, however, there’s no time to admire the opposition. Coach Javier Cabrera must now think about team combinations, especially with foreign-based players joining in. He’s also working to improve understanding among players.
The wave of foreign-based players is now turning homeward. Jamal Bhuiyan, Kazi Tarik Raihan, and Syed Kazem Shah Kirmani have long been part of the squad. Now two more, Hamza Chowdhury and Fahmidul Islam, have joined. Samit Som will arrive Wednesday morning. Out of the preliminary 26-member squad, six are foreign-based.
Demand for tickets has soared around these players. The entire country is caught up in football fever. Supporters and coaches alike have heightened expectations. To meet those, Cabrera’s team must not only play well but also secure positive results. For that, good understanding among players is crucial.
A packed press conference, protests at the BFF gate over ticket demands, and crowds at the stadium entrance — none of these escaped Cabrera’s notice. He says he sees the rising expectations not as pressure but as inspiration. After the press conference, the Spanish coach dived into preparations for the Bhutan match. Bhutan (ranked 182nd) and Bangladesh (183rd) stand side by side in the FIFA rankings.
Fahmidul Islam, who recently returned to Dhaka from Italy, has been practicing since day one with his teammates. He had to leave Saudi Arabia’s camp with bitter memories in March, but he’s back now, dreaming of his debut in the red and green jersey. His teammates say Fahmidul has blended well in this short preparation period. Cabrera hinted that the 18-year-old forward may get a chance in the Bhutan game.
Goals have been elusive for Bangladesh. The team has long been searching for a good striker. They tried to bring in Elita Kingsley with a Bangladeshi passport but that plan didn’t materialize. Many see Fahmidul as the solution to Bangladesh’s goal drought.
Hamza joined camp on Monday. Even before the Bhutan match, he’s had some time to strengthen his understanding with teammates. Having made his debut against India in Shillong last March, he now eagerly awaits his first home game. This defensive midfielder, with Premier League experience, is confirmed to be in the squad for the Bhutan match, though playing time is not guaranteed.
Samit Som is scheduled to return from Canada to Dhaka Wednesday morning. Cabrera is unlikely to play him against Bhutan but there’s a strong possibility of his debut in the Singapore match. That would give him about five days to adjust with the team.
For the coach, the key issues now are how well the local and foreign players gel, how strong the midfield-attack understanding is, and how well Hamza, Sohel, and Tarik coordinate to protect Mitul Marma in defense. The Bhutan match will be the test of these understandings. Much will depend on this game to see how ready Bangladesh is for the Singapore challenge. Whether football’s revival and supporters’ passion continue to build or lose steam depends on this too.
