Football team leaves for Kuwait to play WC Qualifier

Bangladesh National Football team finally left Saudi Arabia on Sunday afternoon for Kuwait to play their away match of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Palestine.

Bangladesh team's scheduled to tour Kuwait on Sunday has became uncertain as they did not get Kuwait visa till Saturday night.

Later, the team got visa Sunday morning to fly for Kuwait.

Ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qualifying match against Palestine, Bangladesh national team conducted an intensive two-week long preparatory camp at the King Fahd Sports City Stadium in the Saudi City of Al Taif from March 3-17.

They also played two preparatory matches there against Sudan.

Bangladesh will play their World Cup away match against Palestine on March 21 at 9:30 pm local time at the Jaber Al Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait city.

After the day's final training session in Saudi Arabia, the Spanish head coach of Bangladesh team Havier Cabrera is very much satisfied with training camp in Saudi Arabia amid adequate facilities and enough hospitality.

Bangladesh team will return home from Kuwait on March 22 and will play their home match also with Palestine on March 26 at 3:30 pm local time at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka

Earlier, Bangladesh played two World Cup Qualifier matches against Australia and Lebanon.

Bangladesh suffered a 0-7 goals defeat against hosts Australia in their away match on Nov 16 and drew 1-1 with Lebanon in their home match in Dhaka on Nov 21.

Earlier, Bangladesh earned the rights to play in the six-match home and away basis Group I matches of the FIFA World Cup's Asian qualifiers with with World Cup playing Australia, stronger Lebanon and Palestine eliminating the Maldives in the round 1 match.

28-member Saudi Arabia -bound Bangladesh squad are:

Goalkeepers: Anisur Rahman Zico, Mitul Marma, Mahfuz Hasan Pritom and Mehdi Hassan Srabon,

Defenders: Topu Barman Bishwanath Ghosh, Hasan Murad, Rahmat Mia, Isa Faysal, Shakil Hossain, Saad Uddin and Taj Uddin

Midfielders: Sohel Rana, Mohammad Ridoy, Chandan Roy, Md Sohel Rana, Mojibor Rahman Jony, Rabiul Hasan, Jamal Bhuyan, Syed Shah Quazem Kirmanee and Jayed Ahmed;

Forwards: Rakib Hossain, Sumon Reza, Foysal Ahmed Fahim, Rafiqul Islam, Rabbi Hossain Rahul, Shahriar Emon and Arman Foysal Akash.