Tomorrow marks a critical match for Bangladesh in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers against India, and national team head coach Javier Cabrera has confirmed that Mithul Marmai will continue to guard the goal. Speaking at a press conference earlier today, Cabrera made it clear that the goalkeeper would remain in the starting lineup.
Mithul has played in all four qualifying matches for Bangladesh, with seven goals conceded. The most recent match was a friendly against Nepal on November 13, where Bangladesh drew 1-1 after conceding a late goal. This result led to some criticism of Mithul’s performance, especially considering the series of goals conceded in the dying moments of matches. Many fans had speculated that a change in the goalkeeper position might be made for the India match. However, Cabrera quickly dismissed such suggestions when asked about the issue, calmly stating, “No, Mithul will play.”
The most notable moment of concern came in the match against Singapore in Dhaka, where Bangladesh conceded two goals. Mithul had received tragic news just four days before the game about the death of his older brother. Despite the grief, he took to the pitch, and after the game, expressed his sorrow on Facebook, apologising to fans for not being able to contribute more. He wrote, “I played with the grief of losing my brother, but I remained focused on giving my best for my country. I tried to contribute to the game, but I couldn’t. I apologise for that. Please forgive me for my mistakes. This has been a very difficult time for me.”
Despite personal loss and criticism, Mithul has earned the continued trust of the coach, and Cabrera is fully committed to backing him. He has also emphasised the importance of not repeating past mistakes, especially after the late goals conceded against Hong Kong and Nepal. Cabrera made it clear that Bangladesh must defend better against India. “We’ve worked particularly on ensuring that nothing like that happens again. If we defend properly in the box, we won’t face problems.”
Regarding Nepal’s defensive style, Cabrera reassured that India’s approach would be different. “India will not sit back like Nepal did. They will be more attacking, playing to win,” he said. He also added that the team had thoroughly analysed their mistakes in the Nepal game and that the key focus now was on preparing the squad both mentally and tactically.
When questioned about Ryan Williams, Australia-born midfielder for India, Cabrera remained unfazed. “We are not focusing on who will play or who won’t. We are prepared for every situation. Even if Williams doesn’t play, India have many other quality players, and we’ve made specific preparations for all scenarios.”
The match tomorrow is effectively a decider for third place in the group. In terms of pressure, Cabrera said, “Both teams will play to win. There is pressure on both teams, but we are ready to face it.”
Another point of discussion in the Bangladesh camp has been the performance of Hamza Chowdhury, who has scored four goals in six appearances for his country. There has been speculation about whether he could leave gaps in defence if he moves forward. Cabrera responded calmly, “Hamza’s versatility is our strength. He can play in any position, and it’s part of our tactical plan when he moves up and when he stays back.”
Tomorrow’s match will be Bangladesh’s last international of the year, with the final group match against Singapore set for March 31 next year. With emotions high ahead of the Bangladesh-India clash, fans are filled with hope and anticipation. Cabrera, for his part, remains determined to take all three points. “We are ready. We believe we can win. The team has that belief,” he said confidently.