Football's Croatian coach Robert Rubcic has come close to picking his 'own' squad for the Olympic pre-qualifiers against Kuwait as a one-day trial of 56 players was held at the Birshreshtha Mostafa Kamal Stadium at Kamalapur yesterday.

"I am happy and satisfied with the performance the players put up in the trial matches because there are many talented players and we have to nurture them to bring the best out of them," said Rubcic after the session, adding that he would announce a 25-member preliminary squad in a couple of days after studying the performances of these players.

Among the 56, only six players have experience of playing for the national team at different times and it is a common phenomenon for a new coach to choose his own young team.

After picking the preliminary squad, Rubcic will conduct a six-day camp at the BKSP from December 19 and play two practice matches against Muktijoddha Sangsad, on December 19, and Mohammedan, on December 23.

Before taking on Kuwait in the away match on February 19, Rubcis wants his side to play eight practice matches. Bangladesh will host Kuwait on March 5.