Dhaka, Dec 19 (bdnews24.com) - Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Tuesday dropped five national players as it picked 36 for the camp for the pre-qualifying round of 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The axed players are midfielders Araman Azizi, Abul Hossain and Faisal Mahmud and defenders Firoz Mahmud Titu and Mohiuddin Ibnul Siraji.
Azizi led the Bangladesh U-23 team in 15th Asian Games in Qatar while other four booters played a vital role during the team's Asiad campaign.
"The final-phase of Olympics will start in 2008 and by that time five players will cross the 23-year limit required for the meet. So we have dropped them in the early stage," said Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) general secretary Anwarul Haq Helal Tuesday.
Bangladesh have to play pre-qualifying stage to go to the final round. They will face Hong Kong on February 7, 2007 at home and play the away match on February 14.
Helal said, "We want to break away from the tradition of concealing the actual age of the players."
He said it is not important whether Bangladesh play qualifying round or the final round.
The selected players have been requested to report to manager Amirul Islam Babu at BFF Bhaban on December 22
Players: SM Sakil, Atiqul Islam Tareq, Mazharul Islam Himel and Ziaur Rahman Zia (keepers), Ariful Islam, Soaib Hossain Sunny, Arafat Ali Rony, Abul Kashem, Jahirul Islam Jahir, Saikat, Wali Faisal, Ripon Khan, Rajan Miah, Aminul Islam. Imdadul Haq Monu and SM Razib (Defenders), Shahriar Abdullah Rintu, Rashed Ahmed Pappu, Jahed Parves Chowdhury, Enamul Haq Sharif, Mashud Parvez Kaiser, Komol, Jahid Hossain, Nasirul Islam Nasir, Maruf Ahmed, Rony Islam, Chanchal and Mamun (Midfielders), Jahid Hossain Emily, Mehdi Hasan Ujjal, Abu Murshed, M Robin, Mithun Chowdhury, Anwar Hossain, Humayun Kabir Moeen and Ripon (Strikers).
bdnews24.com/ar/rhm/bd 2210 hrs
