The Bangladesh national football team is intensifying its preparations in Indonesia ahead of the upcoming FIFA-sanctioned ASEAN Cup. The squad is scheduled to kick off its tournament campaign against Malaysia on September 25. The roster is now complete, with the final group of players arriving from abroad to join the training camp; recent arrivals include midfielder Samit Som from Canada, defender Dewan Hamza Chowdhury from the United States, and forward Farhan Ali Wahid from England. Head coach Thomas Dooley led the first full-squad training session on Tuesday, emphasizing the need for rapid adaptation as the tournament start date approaches.
Participating as a guest team in the 14-nation tournament’s premier division, Bangladesh received this opportunity following India’s withdrawal. While the competition primarily features teams from the ASEAN region, Bangladesh is joined by Hong Kong and Pakistan as invited participants. The current squad reflects a significant shift in composition, featuring nine expatriate players who are expected to bolster the team’s performance against high-quality regional opponents. Samit Som expressed strong optimism regarding the team’s prospects, stating that every player is eager to contribute to the collective goal of achieving positive results. He noted that the FIFA-sanctioned event represents a crucial platform for Bangladesh to demonstrate its ability to compete at a higher level.
Integration among the squad has been seamless, with veteran and expatriate players training together alongside new arrivals such as Zidan Yusuf, who plays in English club football, and Shoki Ito, who plays in Japan. Samit noted his enthusiasm about training with this group and his readiness to showcase his best form during the tournament. Despite the overall positive momentum, coach Thomas Dooley provided an update on the health of the squad, noting that young forward Sheikh Morsalin remains sidelined due to an injury. While Morsalin did not participate in Tuesday’s session, he is expected to join the squad as early as Wednesday. Dooley expressed satisfaction with having a full complement of players at his disposal, despite the limited time available for final tactical preparations.
