Bangladesh prepared for India test

DHAKA-Motivated Bangladesh are prepared to face favorite India in their second match of SAFF Championship scheduled to be

held tomorrow (Monday) at National Stadium in Male, the capital of the
Maldives.

   Private satellite channel T-Sports telecast the match live that kicks off
at 5 pm (BST).

   Under new interim head coach Oscar Bruzon, Bangladesh must be looking
forward to improve on their head-to-head record against the blue Tigers which
reads two wins, twelve draws and sixteen losses.

   Bangladesh ended their seven-match winless run with a 1-0 win over Sri
Lanka in their SAFF Championship opener on Friday last. The win definitely
boosted the confidence level of the players before the tough match against
India.

   Topu Barmon, the hero of the Bangladesh's first match, scored the match-
winning goal ending Bangladesh winless run. Team's head coach Oscar Bruzon
must be expecting the same performance from Topu in the crucial against
India.

   The Jamal and Co must be boosted before the tough match against India as
thousand of Bangladesh football fans in Maldives are ready to support them
from the big bowl as they did it Bangladesh's first match against Sri Lanka.

   The boys in red and green headed into the tournament having lost their
last two friendlies against Palestine (0-2) and Kyrgyzstan (1-4). They were
also beaten 0-2 by India in the last encounter in a World Cup qualifier in
June.

   Addressing at a pre match press conference today Bangladesh's coach Oscar
Bruzon said India is strong side, that's right. But we are also strong. We
have come here with the goal of doing something good although we only got
eight practice sessions here.

   Bruzon admitted that India is the favorite here and they have many good
players in different positions. But he thinks tomorrow (Monday) will be a
good fight and Bangladesh would fight and take to the field to win the match.

   Team skipper Jamal Bhuyan, who was present in the press conference, also
hoping to win against India, added, "We are thinking of winning. Of course I
want to win."

   Meanwhile, Bangladesh completed their training session at Henveiru
training pitch in the afternoon ahead of the India match. Defender Rezaul
Karim did not take part in the training due to illness.   

   Currently ranked 107 by FIFA, India will be looking to start their
campaign on a high though they have not been on their best shape, despite
being on an undefeated run of four previous games. So the Indian side
definitely want to get back their rhythm on Monday's encounter.

   The Blue Tigers also looking forward to win their eighth SAFF Championship
title this time, having won it in 1993, 1997, 1999, 2005, 2009, 2011 and 2015
- which is the most by any team in the tournament.

   The Sunil Chhetri-led side will face Sri Lanka next on October 7 before
taking on Nepal on October 10. They will wrap up its league stage engagements
with a match against hosts Maldives on October 13.

   Bangladesh squad: Sahidul Alam, Anisur Rahman, Ashraful Islam Rana, Rahmat
Mia, Bishwanath Ghosh, Topu Barman, Riyadul Hasan, Yeasin Arafat , Razaul
Karim Sohel Rana, Saad Uddin Biplo Ahmed, Jamal Bhuyan , Rakib Hossain, Suman
Reza, Tariq Raihan Kazi, Mahbubur Rahman, Mohammad Ibrahim, Matin Miah,
Mohammad Atiqur Rahman Fahad, Jewel Rana, Tutul Hosain Badsha and Mohammad
Hridoy.

   India - Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem, Vishal Kaith,
Pritam Kotal, Seriton Fernandes, Chinglensana Singh, Rahul Bheke, Subhasish
Bose, Mandar Rao Dessai, Udanta Singh, Brandon Fernandes, Lalengmawia,
Anirudh Thapa, Sahal Abdul Samad, Jeakson Singh, Glan Martins, Suresh Singh,
Liston Colaco, Yasir Mohammad, Manvir Singh, Rahim Ali, Sunil Chhetri and Farukh Choudhary.BSS