Cabrera expects something big against India

Dhaka, 19 March – Bangladesh national football team head coach Javier Cabrera was found hopeful as the Spanish coach is expecting something big against in their AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers Match against India.

“India is a favorite and also one of the strong teams in the subcontinent, but we have positive mentality after having high-quality training in Saudi Arabia,” said the Bangladesh head coach in a crowded press conference held in the city’s local hotel on Wednesday.

He added, “The players are positive frame of mind and the team is fully prepared to take the challenge...We are expecting something big against India this time”.

Bangladesh skipper Jamal Bhuiyan and English Premier League player Hamza Chowdhury were also present at the press conference.    

Bangladesh national football team will leave here for India tomorrow (Thursday) to play their AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers Match against India scheduled to be held in Shillongon on March 25.

The booters will also hold their last practice session in Dhaka this afternoon at Bashundhara Kings arena practice ground before going to India.   

About the exclusion of Italian-based midfielder Fahamedul Islam from the final squad, coach Cabrera said: “Fahmidul's situation is different. I know him very well. I was the one who called him. He is a talented player”.

He continued, “Fahmidul has the qualifications to represent the national team. However, I think he needs more time to get used to the national team jersey. There is no possibility of him returning to the team. He is in Italy now."

Asked who will be dropped as Hamza will play in the starting eleven against India, the Spanish coach said there is still five or six sessions to go before the match, so at this moment it would not be possible to say regarding the final squad.

The English Premier League footballer Hamza Chowdhury will set to debut for Bangladesh in March 25, but the captain's armband will remain in the hands of Jamal Bhuiyan as the midfielder was introduced as the team captain of the team at the press conference.

Jamal Bhuiyan, who has been the captain of the Bangladesh team for a long time said, “The match against India is very important. India’s Sunil Chhetria has come out of retirement for the match. Even though Sunil has come, Bangladesh would be ahead because of Hamza.  Sunil has done a tremendous job for his country but let’s be honest Hamza is premier League player.”

Jamal Bhuiyan made his debut for Bangladesh team as the first expatriate footballer in 2013.

Several others are following his footsteps and Hamza is the latest inclusion. After Hamza's arrival, the football atmosphere in Bangladesh has changed. The whole country is in football frenzy.

When asked him to comment about the prediction of the result, the Bangladesh captain categorically stated that he is very much confident to beat India this time in presence of Hamza in the team.  

“We have a good mentality as the coach mentioned, we are more than ready to face India and I think this time we are going to beat them,” he said.

Hamza will get goose bumps when he listens to the national anthem being played prior to his debut match against India, Jamal said when asked about his felling how he felt being the first foreign player to represent Bangladesh national team.

The Sheffield United midfielder Hamza who was present in his first official press conference, said he has plan to represent Bangladesh national football team numbers of years.  

The 27-year old midfielder said he is hopeful and excited of seeing the Bangladesh national football team's tactical abilities and playing style.

He said he has been in contract for a number of weeks with the coach and the coach showed a number of video clips of the team. The team's tactical abilities are very surprising as the way they have been attacking teams.

He also hoped that he would add something to the team.BSS