Booters leave for Malaysia today

---

An 18-member Bangladesh squad, led by national defender Hasan Al Mamun, leaves Dhaka for Malaysia to participate in the prestigious Merdeka Cup Football Tournament Saturday, reports UNB.
The eight-team Merdeka Cup Football Tournament will be held in Kuala Lumpur on August 19-29.
Bangladesh, placed in Group B, will play their opening group match against Indonesia on August 21 at the Shah Alam Stadium at 7.00 pm (BST), the second match against Singapore on August 23 and the third against Zimbabwe on August 25.
"We would like to make a good fight with every team," Coach Hasanuzzaman Bablu told reporters at a press conference at the BFF Bhaban Thursday afternoon.
He said they are taking the tournament as a preparation for the SAFF championship to be held in December.
Bablu said the Malaysia-bound team has less senior players than the New Delhi-bound Nehru Cup squad.
"We've some promising young players, but they have no international experience. However, we'll try our best to do well," he said.
The veteran coach said: "Our opponents are very strong, but the boys are fit and ready to give their best in the field."
Echoing the coach, team captain Hasan Al Mamun said they are taking the tournament as a preparation for the SAFF Championship so that they can utilise their experience in future tournaments.
Replying to a question, he said: "We've no specific target in the tournament as we are quite unaware of the strength of our opponents."
"I can just assure you that the boys will give their maximum efforts in the tournament," he added.
Team manager Amirul Islam Babu and Vice Captain Saifur Rahman Moni were present at the press conference.
Meanwhile, the booters made their final practice Thursday morning under the supervision of Coach Hasanuzzaman Bablu. The practice session began on August 1 at the BKSP in Savar.
The Malaysia-bound team consists of 18 players and five officials.
Bangladesh squad: Goalkeepers- SM Shakil (Sheikh Russell KC) and Mazharul Islam Himel (Mohammedan SC).
Defenders- Hasan Al Mamun (captain), Mustafa Anwar Parvez (Muktijoddha SKC), Mahmudul Hasan (Russell KC), Arafat Ali Ronny (Rahmatganj MFS), Amit Khan Shuvro (Brothers Union), Akram Hossain (Arambagh KS) and Zahirul Islam Zahir (Russell KC).
Midfielders - Motiur Rahman Munna (Muktijoddha SKC), Anup Kumar Baidya (Farashganj SC), Enamul Haq Sharif, Zumratul Islam Mithu (Mohammedan SC), Ronny Islam (Farashganj SC) and Mamunul Islam Mamun (Brothers Union).
Forwards- Saifur Rahman Moni(vicecaptain), (MuktijoddhaSKC), MohammadRony (Mohammedan SC) and GM Mamun (Khulna Abahani).
Officials: Team Leader Asaduzzaman Khasru, Team Manager Amirul Islam Babu, Head Coach Hassanuzzaman Khan Bablu, Assistant Coach Ujjal Chakraborty and Physio Monirul Amin Shammi.
Meantime, A 20-member Bangladesh national football team, led by stopper Kazi Nazrul Islam, left the city Thursday morning for India to participate in the traditional Nehru Cup Football tournament.
The five-nation Nehru Cup Football tournament will be held in New Delhi on August 17-29.
Bangladesh will play their opening group league match against Syria on August 18 at 7:30 pm (BST) at the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi.
Indian satellite channel ZEE Sports will telecast live all the Nehru Cup matches.