AFC Challenge Cup 2008

[Mohiul]

Chinese Taipei is going to host AFC Challenge Cup 2008 from March 1 to March 16, 2008. Bangladesh & India are gonna participate in this tournament. The winner gonna qualilfy for the Asian Cup 2011.

I'm looking forward to see how BD football team performs under new coach. I will keep you updated when I got more information about this tournament.

[shaad]

Who is the new coach?

[Mohiul]

Originally Posted by shaad
Who is the new coach?

Nayimuddin from India

[Mohiul]

Teams invited other than BD & host Taipei:

Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, North Korea, Guam, Palestine, Philippines, Tajikistan, Timor Lorosae, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan and Laos.

[Nocturnal]

Bangladesh invited to Challenge Cup
Source


Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) got official invitation from the Asian Football Federation (AFC) to take part in the Second AFC Challenge Cup to be held in Taipei next year.

"We have decided to take part in the tournament and will start the camp soon after announcement of the 20-nation tournament's schedule," informed BFF acting general secretary Manzoor Hossain Malu yesterday.

The inaugural tournament for the second-tier football nations of Asia was held in Bangladesh in April last year where Bangladesh went out of the race in the quarterfinals with a 6-1 defeat to Tajikistan.

Apart from hosts and Bangladesh, Asia's apex football body also invited Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, North Korea, Guam, Palestine, Philippines, Tajikistan, Timor Lorosae, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan and Laos.

Meanwhile, AFC vice-president Manilal Fernando will pay a one day visit to Bangladesh to see the progress of establishing two football centres and a football academy.

Fernando, also an AFC development director, is scheduled to arrive on Wednesday.

AFC sanctioned US$ 5 lakh tsunami fund in 2005 to build two football centres and it extended the timeframe after the deadline expired in June last year and they sanctioned US$ 4,000 under the second Goal project to build a football academy.

[Mohiul]

After a lot of twists & turns, the whole atmosphere for AFC Challenge Cup 2008 has been changed. Now it's gonna be a two phase tournament. At first stage, four qualifying group will hosted by four different countries namely Kyrgystan, Nepal, Chainese Taipei & Phillipines.

News source

[jonny]

AFC Challenge Cup 2008 qualifying round draw made
KUALA LUMPUR: The AFC Challenge Cup 2008 qualifying round was drawn this afternoon at AFC House, throwing up a number of intriguing encounters.

Sixteen teams came out of the pots to be drawn into four groups of four teams each, with only the group toppers qualifying to join DPR Korea, Turkmenistan, hosts India and Myanmar in the eight-team finals which will be played from July 30-August 10.

The four qualifying groups will be hosted by Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, Chinese Taipei and the Philippines.

AFC will announce the dates of the qualifying competition shortly.

Tajikistan won the inaugural edition of the AFC Challenge Cup in 2006 by defeating Sri Lanka in the final in Bangladesh.

THE GROUPINGS
GROUP A: Sri Lanka, Chinese Taipei (hosts), Pakistan, Guam
GROUP B: Tajikistan, Brunei Darussalam, The Philippines (hosts), Bhutan
GROUP C: Kyrgyzstan (hosts), Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Laos
GROUP D: Nepal (hosts), Palestine, Cambodia, Macau

http://www.the-afc.com/eng/articles/viewArticle.jsp_165118247.html

[jonny]

Start May 5 to 10 in Kyrgyzstan.

[Mohiul]

Dhaka, April 29 (bdnews24.com)— Bangladesh coach Abu Yousuf has taken the next month's AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers as a preparatory tournament for the national team ahead of the South Asian Football Federation Championship in June. "Our aim is to prepare ourselves through the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers before taking part in the SAFF Championship, but we want to qualify for the finals of the Challenge Cup," Yousuf told reporters during an 18-member squad announcement Tuesday. Nokia, the national team's clothing sponsor, organised the conference at Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan. "If we can finish top in the qualifiers, it will certainly inspire the boys in the SAFF Championship," said the former national defender. It was probably the first time that the coach announced the national football team without the presence of a single official of the federation. Yousuf said he had independently chosen the squad, but the name of the captain would be declared by the newly elected BFF committee. He however hinted that either Hasan Al Mamun or Aminul Haq would wear the arm-band of the captaincy. Yousuf said he had picked up those players, capable of playing throughout the game in line with his strategy—to go for attack, and come down to defend the opponent's attack all together. The former footballer said he had first emphasised the need of the players' fitness for the first three weeks and all but satisfied the way the players toiled hard to regain their fitness. He added he has been working on the game for the last week. Yousuf has rated hosts Kyrgyzstan as a supreme side, but believes Bangladesh are better than two other opponents Laos and Afghanistan. The national team will leave Dhaka for Kyrgyzstan on May 2 before starting their campaign on May 5 against Laos. Bangladesh will take on Afghanistan on May 7 before facing the hosts on May 9. "The national team had also earlier suffered for lack of warm-up matches. The problem is still there, but we have to move on," Yousuf said. "We should have played at least five warm-up matches in different conditions before going to Kyrgyzstan." Selected squad: Aminul Haq, Biplob Bhattacharya, Hasan Al Mamun, Ariful Islam, Wali Faisal, Rajani Kanta Barman, Atiqur Rahman Mishu, Mofazzel Hossain Saikat, Arup Kumar Baidya, Arman Aziz, Enamul Haq Sharif, Jahed Parvez, Faisal Mahmud, Maruf Ahmed, Mamunul Islam Mamun, Mehdi Hasan Ujjal, Mohammad Robin, Jahid Hasan Emily. bdnews24.com/ar/ad/2232 hrs

[Mohiul]

BD will be facing Afghanistan tomorrow

[Mohiul]

Afghanistan hold Bangladesh

Lowly Afghanistan held 10-man Bangladesh to a goalless draw in the AFC Challenge Cup Group C qualifier at the Spartak Stadium here on Monday

[nasimul]

amra football kheli keno?

[Tigers_eye]

Originally Posted by nasimul
amra football kheli keno?

Positives:

We only had 10 men on the field.

Our boys are gaining experience against teams like Afganistan.

(Ar kono positive khujey pai nai)

[Nocturnal]

ধুর- আফগানিস্তানের সাথেও জিততে পারিনা এখন
নতুন বাফুফেই শেষ ভরসা

[Mohiul]

Originally Posted by Tigers_eye
Positives:

We only had 10 men on the field.

Our boys are gaining experience against teams like Afganistan.

(Ar kono positive khujey pai nai)

10 men: only for last (few) minute(s) in extra-time.

[Shehwar]

What is going on! Our 'para' teams shud be able to beat Afghanistan!

[Nocturnal]

thought I can share this here- news link

Football Anwar may consider a Bangladesh call Sports Reporter British footballer of Bangladeshi descent Anwar Uddin said he would consider playing for Bangladesh national team if he gets an offer. Anwar, who had represented England's Under- 16 and 19 sides, arrived in Dhaka yesterday morning to visit the youth football camp under the auspices of Canary Wharf, UK. It is his second trip to Bangladesh following the 1989 outing with his father to his hometown in Sylhet. The 27-year-old, highly regarded as a traditional English defender in his youth, went to BKSP shortly after his arrival and spent time with the players in the camp. The Dagenham & Redbridge player in the English League Two was a youth product of East London club West Ham United, but injury forced him to miss the train of Premiership. Anwar's visit inspired the Bangladesh U-14 team also camping at the Savar sport institute and the London-born told the boys that as a Bangladeshi descendant, he wished their prosperity. "If you have the courage and will, you can develop your game," told Anwar to the U-14 players. Fazlur Rahman Babul, a member of Bangladesh Football Federation and co-ordinator of the youth project, who invited Anwar for the weeklong trip, said that the footballer responded to his call to play for the Bangladesh team. "He (Anwar) said if the football federation offers him to play, he will consider it and ask the English FA for permission," Babul said adding that it would take some time if all things fall into places. "I tried to convince him to play for Bangladesh during Mohammedan's tour of UK in 2000 but he was eager about playing for England then. We don't not know how long it will take to clear him to play for Bangladesh but if everyone agrees, we will try to include him in next month's SAFF Championship," added Babul. Anwar will spend the entire day today with the members of the youth project at BKSP along with his tour party involving British coach Anthony Ferguson and Canary Wharf's head of public affairs Zakir Khan. He is scheduled to meet the newly elected officials of the BFF on Friday.

[Mohiul]

shocking!!! Congrats Afghans

This means we have to win against Kyrgyz.

[cricket_dorshok]

Originally Posted by Mohiul
shocking!!! Congrats Afghans

This means we have to win against Kyrgyz.

wow! congrats Afgan!!!
we are done!

[Nocturnal]

still we can do it! Go BD football team

কিরঘিজিস্তানকে ২ গোলের ব্যবধানে হারালে মূলপর্বে উঠবে বাংলাদেশ

ঢাকা, মে ০৮ (বিডিনিউজ টোয়েন্টিফোর ডটকম)--- বাংলাদেশের সামনে সুযোগ এনে দিয়েছে আফগানিস্তান। তারা কিরঘিজিস্তানকে ১-০ গোলে হারানোতে সমীকরণটা এখন এরকম যে শুক্রবার কিরঘিজস্তানের বিপক্ষে দুই গোলে জিতলেই বাংলাদেশ উঠে যাবে এএফসি চ্যালেঞ্জ কাপের মূলপর্বে। তা না হলে সেই সুযোগটা পাবে আফগানিস্তান।

কিন্তু অনেক কঠিন এই সম্ভাবনার সূত্র। গত আগস্টে কিরঘিজিস্তানের সঙ্গে প্রথম আন্তর্জাতিক ম্যাচে বাংলাদেশ দাঁড়াতেই পারেনি। নেহেরু কাপের ওই ম্যাচে বাংলাদেশ হেরেছে ৩-০ গোলে। সাবেক সোভিয়েত ইউনিয়নের ফুটবল ঐতিহ্যের ধারক হিসেবে বাংলাদেশের মতো দলের জন্য তারা সবসময়ই সমীহ জাগানো দল। তবে তুলনামুলক বিচারে শক্তি ও কৌশলে এগিয়ে থাকা মধ্য এশিয়ার দলটির মনোবল ভেঙ্গে এখন খান খান হয়ে গেছে। আফগানিস্তান তাদের ১-০ গোলে হারিয়ে মুছে দিয়েছে মূলপর্বে ওঠার স্বপ্ন। এখন তাই বাংলাদেশকে হারালেও তাদের মূলপর্বে যাওয়ার কোনো সুযোগ নেই। প্রতিপক্ষের এই দূর্বলতাকে কাজে লাগাতে পারলে বাংলাদেশ হয়তো অঘটনের জন্ম দিতে পারে।

অবশ্য "সি" গ্র"পে প্রথম ম্যাচে আবু ইউসুফের দল মোটেও ভাল খেলেনি আফগানিস্তানের বিপক্ষে। শুরু থেকে চাপের মুখে থাকা বাংলাদেশ যে শেষপর্যন্ত ১ পয়েন্ট ছিনিয়ে নিয়ে ম্যাচ শেষ করতে পেরেছে সেটাই ভাগ্য। আর ওই পয়েন্টের জোরেই স্বপ্নটুকু এখনো বেঁচে আছে।

[Tigers_eye]

Even if a 2-1 win would do for us.

However, I think BD would lose by 2-0. Ongsho grohon koratai boro kotha. Har-jit kono bapar na. Khelatey tho har-jit thakbey'i.

[Shehwar]

I dont think we will win!....Can anyone believe Afganistan will go through from this group!

[Nocturnal]

Originally Posted by Shehwar
I dont think we will win!....Can anyone believe Afganistan will go through from this group!

I still think we will win....Kyrgyz is already out.....nothing to play for.....our chance

[Mohiul]

Originally Posted by Nocturnal
I still think we will win....Kyrgyz is already out.....nothing to play for.....our chance

if they play like an wounded tiger/lion then we gonna be in a big looser's side

[Shehwar]

0-0 at half time....thats no good for us..