Bangladesh begin 23-year title quest against Bhutan

Bangladesh will begin their bid to end a 23-year wait for the SAFF Championship title when they take on Bhutan in their opening match at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Thursday, with head coach Thomas Dooley insisting his side have every reason to believe they can lift the trophy.

Playing in front of an expected home crowd, the hosts will carry the weight of a nation's expectations when they kick off their campaign at 8:00pm. But Dooley believes the pressure surrounding Bangladesh's long title drought is not as great as it once was, with confidence within the camp offering a reason for optimism.

"The pressure in the last 23 years was maybe bigger than it is now because we have confidence that we can do well," Dooley said at Wednesday's pre-tournament press conference. "I think it is realistic that this team can win this tournament after 23 years. We want to show everyone how much that means to us."

Bangladesh last won the regional title in 2003 and will be hoping to make the most of home advantage as the tournament returns to the country after an eight-year absence. Dooley, however, knows that hosting the competition also brings expectations that his team can no longer hide from.

The German-American coach is counting on the backing of around home supporters to give his players an extra push, but insists that belief must be translated into performances on the pitch.

Bangladesh, however, will have to begin their campaign without two of their most influential players. Star midfielder Hamza Choudhury and forward Farhaan Ali Wahid are unavailable for the Bhutan match because of their overseas club commitments, leaving the hosts without two key attacking options.

Newly appointed captain Topu Barman admitted that Hamza's absence would be keenly felt, particularly because of the leadership and guidance the Leicester City midfielder brings to the side. But the defender wants his teammates to make sure the midfielder returns to a winning dressing room.

"We will miss him a lot. Leadership like his is very necessary for our team, especially the way he guides us," Topu said. "We want to make the path easier for him by winning against Bhutan so that he can join us with a cheerful morale. We want to welcome him with a win."

Topu, who will wear the captain's armband in place of regular skipper Jamal Bhuyan, also urged supporters to stand behind the team as they chase a long-awaited title.

"The first match is very important in a tournament. We will definitely take the field to win and want to give the people of Bangladesh a good football match," he said. "After 23 years, a good opportunity has come our way and we do not want to miss it. We want to give something back to the supporters, and that is the trophy."

Dooley, meanwhile, played down the significance of the captaincy change, explaining that leadership responsibilities are shared among several senior players, including Jamal, Hamza and Topu. He said Topu's experience and organisational qualities in central defence made him a suitable choice.

The Bangladesh coach also defended his decision not to arrange a warm-up match before the tournament. Although he acknowledged that a friendly would have been beneficial, he said injuries and the inability to find a suitable opponent made it difficult to take the risk.

Topu himself had not been fully fit to play a 90-minute match at one stage of the preparation, while several other players were also carrying minor problems.

Dooley said his main focus during the build-up had been to address the technical shortcomings exposed during Bangladesh's recent Asian Cup campaign, particularly their mistakes in passing and receiving under pressure.

Bhutan, meanwhile, arrived in Dhaka with their own preparation concerns. Head coach Gary Michael Phillips admitted that his side had been unable to arrange practice matches because of their domestic league commitments, resulting in a disrupted build-up.

"We haven't had the preparation that other teams like Bangladesh have had," Phillips said, adding that his squad included several young and inexperienced players. Nevertheless, he expressed confidence in the group selected for the competition.

Bhutan captain Chencho Gyeltshen also acknowledged that he would have liked to face Hamza, describing the Bangladesh midfielder as a player from whom his team could learn.

"Actually, I wanted Hamza to play. If he plays, it is a plus point for us to learn from a star of his quality," Chencho said. "But every team's dream is to win the SAFF Cup. We will try to win the first game and keep our position safe for the semi-final."

For Bangladesh, Thursday's encounter is more than just an opening fixture. It is the first step in a campaign carrying the hopes of ending one of the longest title droughts in the country's football history. Dooley and his players have made their intentions clear. Now they must deliver on the pitch.