Bangladesh to Play Friendly Matches Against Nepal Without Hamza and Samit

The Bangladesh national football team will play two friendly matches against Nepal this September. Scheduled for September 6 and 9 in Kathmandu, the matches are part of the team’s preparation for the Asian Cup qualifiers against Hong Kong. However, Leicester City midfielder Hamza Choudhury and Canada-based midfielder Samit Som, who plays for Cavalry FC, will not be part of the squad.

National team committee member Saeed Hasan Kanan informed the media, “Both Hamza and Samit have important club commitments. That’s why they won’t be available for these two matches.” Hamza Choudhury, a British-born footballer of Bangladeshi descent, is currently busy with Leicester City’s pre-season training for the English Championship. Meanwhile, Samit Som will be participating in league matches for his Canadian club in September.

The absence of these two expatriate footballers has sparked some disappointment within the football community. Experts believe that missing experienced players like Hamza and Samit will be a big blow for the team. In their place, young midfielder Fahmidul Islam, who recently made his debut against Singapore, and Cuba Mitchell, a foreign-based player awaiting his first appearance for Bangladesh, may be called up.

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has yet to announce the official start date for the national team’s training camp. Similarly, there has been no clear update on the preparations of the under-23 team. Javier Cabrera, who previously served as coach during the Asian Games, may not continue due to overlapping schedules for both the senior and youth teams, prompting the federation to search for a new coach.

The situation has become more complicated as the national team committee’s recent meeting failed to finalize a coach for the under-23 team. It has been reported that Abahani coach Maruful Haque, former U-23 coach Zulfiker Mahmud, and Fortis FC coach Masud Kaiser have all declined the position. As a result, BFF's Technical Director Saifur Bari Titu is now being considered as a possible candidate.

All in all, this Nepal tour will see no foreign-based players in the squad. Both the senior and U-23 teams remain in a state of uncertainty, though it is expected that BFF will make an official announcement soon.

(PNN Sports Desk)