The Bangladesh team’s practice is at 6 pm Indian time. The journalists from Bangladesh arrived an hour earlier. Then the security guard on duty at the stadium announced, ‘The Bangladesh team’s practice is at 8:30 pm. You come later. The gate will have to be closed.’
The journalists were forced to leave the stadium and stand outside. The Indian team was practicing nearby. Bangladesh had not yet arrived, so trying to watch India’s practice at that time was even more futile. The doors and gates were completely closed and several layers of security were in place. As a result, Bangladeshi journalists had to wait in the chilly weather in the evening in Shillong.
There is another practice ground next to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Since that ground was turf, many thought that Bangladesh would have to play on turf. The BFF officially announced today that the Bangladesh-India match will be played on natural grass. Three days before the game, the Bangladesh team practiced on artificial turf today. Before the game, senior national team footballer Saad Uddin sees this as an additional challenge, ‘We came to India in 2019 as well. This time, we are facing additional challenges compared to that time.’
Former national team captain Hassan Al Mamun is now the team’s assistant coach. He has experience playing multiple matches against India. In light of that experience, he advises his students to take on external challenges, “I’m trying to prepare them to overcome different things.”
Yesterday, Bangladesh held its first practice session at the university ground. The coach expressed dissatisfaction as the ground was not good enough. Today, the Bangladesh team got artificial turf. According to AFC rules, the Bangladesh team will not be able to practice at the main venue except the day before the match.
Mohammad Hridoy is a reliable midfielder for the national team. Hamza Chowdhury, who plays in the English Premier League, is also in the midfield position. Hridoy is learning a lot from being around footballers playing in the world’s best leagues, ‘I am learning a lot on and off the field. In my eyes, Hamza Bhai is a hundred percent.’