Bangladesh faced a stalemate against Hong Kong in their Asian Cup Qualifying match on the road, ending their chances of advancing further in the competition. Following the match, interim skipper and defender Topu Barman shared insights with journalist Anisur Rahman from The Daily Star about the team’s recent journey and upcoming fixtures.
The Daily Star (DS): How do you assess the team’s performance against Hong Kong?
Topu Barman (TB): We take pride in our display against Hong Kong, particularly in a vibrant atmosphere at the Kai Tak Stadium, where many new players excelled despite the pressure. We contained Hong Kong’s attacking threat well, limiting their chances apart from the penalty, unlike in our previous encounter in Dhaka.
DS: How did you handle performing in front of around 50,000 spectators?
TB: We prepared for the intense atmosphere beforehand and aimed to embrace the occasion rather than be overwhelmed by it. However, communicating on the field was challenging due to the loud support from the home fans.
DS: Can you explain the penalty conceded while building from the back?
TB: Our style of building from deep has been a consistent approach under Javier Cabrera for almost three years. I believe the penalty incident involving Tariq [Kazi] was an isolated occurrence.
DS: How do you feel now that Bangladesh is out of the Asian Cup contention?
TB: The defeat at home to Hong Kong was a setback as a victory could have kept us in the competition with five points. Personally, I am disappointed with the overall outcomes as we had higher aspirations as a team.
DS: What do you think caused the difference between home and away results, with losses at home and draws away?
TB: It’s a challenging aspect to dissect. Looking back at all four matches, we were better positioned in various aspects but lacked focus in crucial moments at home, leading to unfavorable outcomes. In contrast, our away performances showcased more determination and concentration.
DS: Your thoughts on the upcoming matches against India and Singapore?
TB: Despite falling short of our expectations in this Asian Cup campaign, we anticipate a breakthrough victory against India on November 18. Additionally, we aim to secure points in the away fixture against Singapore to enhance our FIFA ranking.
DS: The addition of foreign-raised players like Hamza Choudhury and Shamit Shome has heightened hopes, but the team struggles to secure wins. Why do you think that is?
TB: Undoubtedly, the inclusion of Hamza and Shamit has uplifted our standards with their quality and character. However, results are paramount, and this time, the stakes were higher than ever. We believe we have the capability to outperform any South Asian opponent.