Two months idle, nine days training

Bangladesh football head coach Thomas Dooley is racing against time to close a major fitness gap ahead of the country’s historic maiden ASEAN Cup appearance, putting his squad through an intensive training camp in Dhaka before their trip to Jakarta.

The players have completed nine days of rigorous training at Bashundhara Kings Arena, with torrential rain forcing Sunday’s session indoors for gym work.

Bangladesh are scheduled to fly to Indonesia on 19 September, with the tournament running from 24 September to 5 October.

Dooley believes the early start to the national camp was essential to reduce the risk of injuries, with most of his players having been inactive for around two months since the international fixture in San Marino and the domestic league yet to begin.

“I am very happy with the training so far,” Dooley said on Sunday. “We trained twice a day because most of the players had not done anything for about two or three months. If you do not do anything for two months and start training, it is very difficult.”

“In big countries, they have a six-week pre-season. If our players trained only once a day for a week before the league, the risk of injury would be huge. I am glad the football federation and the club owners agreed to let the national team start early.”

However, Dooley was realistic about Bangladesh’s chances against higher-ranked opponents such as Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.

“We have to be realistic,” he added. “We want to play against big teams and get the best possible results.”

The German tactician also dismissed online speculation over Bangladesh’s failure to arrange home friendlies, explaining that potential opponents were occupied with the Asian Cup, Nations League or Arab Cup.

Squad selection remains open, with Dooley keen to assess young defender Zidane Yousuf after his impressive performances in the AFC U-20 qualifiers.

“I do not know yet if he will travel with us to Jakarta. If he comes in, avoids injury, and shows he is the number one option in defence, then we will take him,” he mentioned.

Competition is also fierce for the goalkeeper’s spot, with five contenders, including newcomer Saif Kerawala, currently considered equal by Dooley.

The coach additionally addressed the delayed arrival of overseas players such as Sheffield United midfielder Hamza Choudhury, noting that clubs are only obliged to release players during the FIFA window.

 The coach noted the delayed arrival of international players such as Sheffield United’s Hamza Choudhury, explaining that clubs are only required to release players during the FIFA window. However, he remains confident in their professionalism and ability to quickly adapt to the system and help the team succeed.