Kathmandu: The Bangladesh U15 National Team has made it to the final of the ongoing SAFF U15 Championship 2018 in Nepal but the players have chosen training over celebrations to gear up for the finals.
Skipper Mahedi Hasan, however, said the boys cannot be complacent after a win against India.
“India is strong team and beating them is obviously a good effort. However, our target is the championship and we are focusing on that,” said Mahedi.
The goalkeeper Mehedi Hasan also reiterated his skipper’s words in saying that the semifinal win is in the past and what lies ahead is the final against Pakistan.
“We cannot be celebrating the win against India. It isn’t time yet,” said Mehedi adding that it’s about time Bangladesh brought the trophy back home.
“We want to make the country proud,” he said with great footballing spirit.
On Thursday, the Red and Greens dominated the field and beat neighbours India 4-2 on penalties after the first semi-final match had ended 1-1.
A surprise goal from India in the 17th minute kept the boys on edge but the rapid offensive tactic proved effective in the 91st minute when team Bangladesh got a penalty.
Chosen by head coach Mostofa Anowar Parvej, substitute Md Ashikur Rahman made no mistake to bring Bangladesh back into the game.
Goalkeeper Mehedi Hasan deflected two penalties in the final minutes, paving the way for the finals.
It was a great victory in a challenging situation and the head coach Parvej Babu remembers to praise it.
“Our boys stuck to the game plan throughout the whole match. We conceded the goal against the flow of the game but our boys were not fazed,” said Babu.
“They kept on working as per our instructions, showed tremendous character and carved out the win,” he said adding that the main focus is now on the final.
Happy with scoring a pivotal penalty in the game, Md Ashikur Rahman said, “I’m happy to have helped the team qualify for the final. I have scored 3 goals already. I want to continue that form in the final.”
Bangladesh will play the final against Pakistan at the ANFA Complex Ground in Kathmandu, Nepal at 2:45pm on Saturday, November 3.
