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The hour arrives for Bangladesh

Sports Reporter
Bangladesh will be hoping to put a month of turmoil behind them when they step onto the Bangabandhu National Stadium today in pursuit of the SAFF Championships.
Ihe departure of Brazilian coach Edson Silva Dido, followed by his explosive comments against certain quarters at the BFF has had some effect on the preparation of interim coach Shahidur Rahman Shantoo, whose first act was to name a squad that
missed many of the youth brigade that Dido had drafted.
AU of this has only added to the pressure as Bangladesh seek a repeat of2003 by lifting the trophy on home soil.
Though Shantoo did not admit to feeling any pressure on the verge of the first game, he looked uneasy sharing his strategy, formation and starting eleven against Bhutan, a team who are ranked a pitiful 196th and have never beaten Bangladesh. However they did hold Bangladesh in their last meeting during the fifth SAFF championship.
"We will play for full three points as there is no alternative but to win and I don't want to recall anything that happened against Bhutan in the past." said Shantoo.
The 2003 champions Bangladesh would like to forget the nightmare of SAIT Championship in Colombo last year where they were held 1-1 by Bhutan. 2-2 by Afghanistan before being beaten 1 -0 by Sri Lanka in the group stage matches.
Shantoo studied that Bangladesh-Bhutan match and found some errors and tried to rectify those problems during his 19-day training camp. The former Bangladesh international also believes that familiar environment and home crowd will play a key role in the match against Bhutan.
"There was some misunderstanding as well as a lack of combination amongst the players, the offence and the defence. I did a lot of work on it and after talking to the boys it seems to me that the boy’s are in a good mood and are fully ready to take the challenge this time," said the former Bangladesh goalkeeper.
The Bangladesh coach, however, might face problem in selecting his starting eleven even though Shantoo believes all his players are equal and capable of playing anywhere on the field.
"The starting eleven is yet to be finalised and both the playing eleven as well as the game strategy will be finalised tomorrow (Friday) morning," Shantoo said.
"It will have no impact on the boys as they know what I want from them."
Captain Aminul Haq was more upbeat than his coach and thought they have already overcome their lack of combination in the three practice matches.
"Yes, there was a lack of combination in the first practice match against Sheikh Russel, but we have overcome it after the matches against BFF XI and Ulsan Hyundai," Aminul said.
"The coach worked a lot on the match situations as well as control of the ball at the camp and I think there will be no problem against Bhutan."
"Our target is to play the final match. So we are not only thinking about Bhutan, we are also thinking of winning all group matches and if we can play accordingly, then it is possible to win all five matches including the final." added Bangladesh goalkeeper Aminul.
Bangladesh are also getting the inspiration from their success in the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers at home under the guidance
ofDido.
"Almost all players have been under the national fold after the AFC Challenge Cup and a good understanding have been built up among us and 1 think success in the AFC Cup qualifiers will boost us morally," said Aminul, adding that they would miss the services of injured winger Zahid Hossain, the key instrument of Bangladesh's wins against Cambodia and Macao.
However, the Bangladesh captain has pinned his hopes on playmaker Mamunul Islam along wi th star striker Zahid Hasan Emily, who is in a rich vein of form in the domestic competition having struck six goals in the Federation Cup and the Bangladesh League.
Shantoo's counterpart, Bhutan coach Koji Gyotoku also
thought that Bangladesh are ahead of them in terms of tactics as well as technique.
"Maybe Bangladesh are better than us considering their tactics and techniques, but at the same time, sometimes surprises are produced," said Gyotoku adding that his side will adopt a defensive mood in a bid to snatch a point and hopefully get something on the break.
Bhutan captain Prema said, "Our target is to win the game against Bangladesh though Bangladesh will play with home field advantage."
Sri Lanka take on Pakistan in the day's first match which will kick off the proceedings. GROUPA
Team: Maldives
FIFA Ranking: 148
Squad: Mohamed Sifan, Abdul Ghani, Umair Mohamed, Ibrahim Soba, Jameel Mohamed, Mossa Ahmed Eiraz, Hussain Mohamed, Sinan Mohamed, Fazeel Ibrahim, Ashfaq Ali, Ali Ashadh, Gasim Shamweel, Abdul Ghani Akram, Naseer Mukthar, Umar Ali, Rasheed Ahmed, Ahmed Thoriq, Arif Mohamed, Imran Mohamed, Ahmed Aghfan.
Coach: Urbanyi Istvan Bela Last tournament: Champions Star turn: Ashfaq Ali Aspiration: Maldives are a strong compact side and have earned the tag as one of the upstarts from the region. They will look to dominate from the off and go all the way
Team: India
FIFA Ranking: 135
Squad: Nirmal Chetri, Rowilson Rodregues, Ravinder Singh, Baideep Singh, Jagpreet Singh, Thakchom Naoba
Singh, Balwant Singh, Sushil Kumar Singh, Joaquim Santan Abranches, Je Je Lalpeklua, Khangembam Jibon Singh, Dharmeraj Ravanan, Manish Mathani, Jagtar Singh, Robert Lalthianmuena, Denzil Michael Franco, Subodh Kumar, Laxmikant Kattimani, Jewel Raja Shaikh and Subhash Singh Singam.
Coach: Shukvindar Singh
Last tournament: Runners-up Star turn: Sushil Kumar Singh Aspiration: Despite fielding a largely second string side, the Indians will pose stiff opposition for any side. Expect them to ruffle a few feathers but they perhaps lack the experience to go all the way.
Team: Afghanistan
FIFA Ranking: 189
Squad: Faisal, Mohammad Salem, Zohib, Wahid, Djelauddin, Hafizullah, Hashmattullah, Moqaddar, Mustafa, Israfeel, Saboor, Zakria, Zomahn, Shamsuddin, Ali Ahmad, Masood, Khasraw, Taimoor, Hamid, Ali.
Coach: Mohammad Yosuf Kargar
Last tournament: Group Stage Star turn: Israfil Kohistani Aspiration: The war-riddled nation is expected to be one of the minnows of the event as they are fielding a team comprised mostly of youth players. However, the players know each other well and this could be an advantage.
Team: Nepal
FIFA Ranking: 173
Squad: Chetan Ghimire, Sandip Rai, Rakesh Shrestha,
Jo Maku Rai, Nirajan Malla, Rabin Shreshia, Anjan K.O., Bijay Gorung, Bikash Malla, Biraj Maharian, Rohit Chand, Yogesh Shrestha, Nirajan Khadka, Raju Tamang, Ritesh Thapa, Chon Bahadur Thapa, Sagar Thapa, Santosh Shahukhala, Anil Gurung and MulmiMaheswor.
Coach: KrishnaThapa.
Last tournament: Group Stage Star turn: Rakesh Shrestha Aspiration: Nepal are targeting a semifinal spot this time around, after a group stage exit in the last tournament. They will look to get a solid start in their opening match against Maldives.
GROUPB
Team: Bangladesh
FIFA Ranking: 165
Squad: Aminul Haq, Biplob Bhattacharya, Mazharul Islam Himel, Rajani Kanta Barman, Ariful Islam, Wali Faisal, Ibnul Siraji, Mamun Mia, Nasiruddin, Atiqur Rahman Mishu, Mehdi Hasan Ujjal, Arman Aziz, Zahed Parves Chowdhury, Pranotosh Kumar, Shahedul Alam, Mamunul Islam, Abdul Baten Komol, Enamul Haq, Mithun Chowdhury and Zahid Hasan Emily.
Coach: Shahidur Rahman Shantoo.
Last tournament:Group stage Star turn: Zahid Hasan Emily Aspiration: Despite the acrimonious sacking of Brazilian coach Dido, Shahidur Rahman Shantoo's charges will look to use home advantage to win the whole tournament
Team: Sri Lanka
FIFA Ranking: 158
Squad: Mohamed Illadeen, Thilina Suranda, Bandara, Chathura Gunarathna, Asmeer, Channa, Sanjeeu, Ajith Kumara, Steinwall, Sembukutti Kankanange Lahiru Tharaka, Anurudda Bandara Warakagoda, FROM PAGE 17
Dumidu Wasanthaka, Hettiarachche, Rohana Dinesh Ruwanthilaka, Tharusha Rangana, Sanoj Sameera Perera, Sajaya Pradeep Kumara, Kasun Nadika, Mohamad Fasal, Sadhishkumar, Nipuna Dewinda Bandara, Chathcira Maduranga Weerasinghe, Kolitha Chathuranga Kumara, Rajitha Jayawilal, Thilanka Nalinda Kumara.
Coach: Sampath Perera.
Last tournament Semifinal Star turn: Kasum Jayasuriya Aspiration: Sri Lanka are a solid side and although their track record over the last decade is not exceptional they are targeting a spot in the final in this edition of the tournament.
Team: Pakistan FIFA Ranking: 168 Squad: Jaffar Khan, Amir Gul, Sammar Ishaq, Haji Muhammad, Muhammad Essa, Nasrullah Khan, Safiullah Khan, Abdul Aziz, Jadeed Khan Pathan, Arif
Mehmood, Mohammad Shahid, Zeshan Rehman, Adnan Farooq Ahmed, Amjad Iqbal, Atif Bashir Qureshi, Shabir Khan, Mahmood Ali, Orangzeb, Muddassar Saeed and Ris Ashraf.
Coach: George Adalbert Kottan.
Last tournament: Group Stage Star turn: Adnan Ahmed Aspiration: George Kottan knows Bangladesh and their football well. His insight will come in useful as tlie Pakistan side, with fresh faces from the expatriate community in the UK, look to make a name for them in the tournament.
Team: Bhutan
FIFA Ranking: 196
Squad: Passang Tshering, Perna, Nawang Dendup, Kinley Dorji, Sangay Khandu, Tandin Tshering, Karun Gurung, Kinley Wangchuk, Sonam Tenzin, Tenzin, Leki, Tshering Dendup, Nim Sangay. Gyeltshen, Chihimi Dorji, Dawa Gyeltshen, Kelzang Dorji, Chencho, KingaThinley.
Coach: Koji Gyotoku
Last tournament: Semifinal Star turn: Prema
Aspiration: Bhutan are the lowest-ranked side in the piece, but they have been semifinalists in the last edition, only losing to India in stoppage time. .They are not expected to be as strong this time around.