'Schweichler Made Me a Better Goalkeeper'
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
today's paper >> sports >> published: 01:49 september 2, 2015 ‘Schweichler made me a better goalkeeper’ Tribune Report The Sheikh Jamal DC custodian put up a brave display against Malaysia in the justconcluded Fifa international friendly in Kuala Lumpur, making a number of brilliant saves to hold the hosts to a goalless draw Bangladesh are just a day away from facing their biggest opponents – Asian champions Australia in a very long time and goalkeeper Shahidul Alam Sohel believes all the players should try to perform to the best of their abilities to achieve something from their 2018 Fifa World Cup second round qualifier, slated for tomorrow at NIB Stadium in Perth. The Sheikh Jamal DC custodian put up a brave display against Malaysia in the justconcluded Fifa international friendly in Kuala Lumpur, making a number of brilliant saves to hold the hosts to a goalless draw. And ahead of the allimportant Australia clash, Sohel admitted that the stalemate against the Malaysians will inspire them when they take the field tomorrow. “We played well against Malaysia and I believe that it will give us more confidence ahead of the game against Australia. Everybody praised my performance and I want to continue my form in the next game as well,” said Sohel. “Having said that, the Australia attacking line is stronger than the one we faced against Malaysia. So to overcome this challenge, the defenders and all the players should perform, not only the keeper,” he added. Sohel thanked Bangladesh’s German goalkeeping coach Christian Schweichler for the improvement in his form. “I trained under his supervision ever since I recovered from injury. He taught me new things. I am now more confident than before. Whatever the result will be, I will try to give my very best.” Ahead of tomorrow’s match, the Bengal Tigers enjoyed a twohour training session at Dorrien Gardens, Lawley Street yesterday. It was learnt that the coaching staff are now mainly working on the players’ psychological aspects. SHARING A A+ 0 0 Google + 0 0 5 0 Football NEWS SECTIONS Crime Bangladesh Education Business Health World Regulation Sport Law & Rights Lifestyle Women Feature Metropolitan Opinion MAGAZINES ABOUT Weekend About Us TMAG Contact Us Avenue T Advertise Treehouse Subscribe Arts & Letters Home Sports Cricket 12:00 AM, September 02, 2015 / LAST MODIFIED: 12:00 AM, September 02, 2015 Sohel ready for Aus challenge 0 0 After a light warm-up session yesterday morning, the Bangladesh players and officials stopped by at the Kings Park in Perth. The booters will take on the Socceroos in a World Cup-Asian Cup qualifier at the Nib Stadium in the Western Australian city tomorrow. PHOTO: BFF Sports Reporter As Bangladesh brace for the Australian onslaught in their World Cup and Asian Cup joint qualifier on September 3 with an outright defensive display in mind, the man who might have to play the most important role is goalkeeper Shahidul Alam Sohel. The Sheikh Jamal goalkeeper, who had has been part of the national team for the last four years but lost his place to other keepers quite a few times, has seemingly reinstalled the confidence of the team management and the coaching staff with a brilliant performance in the recent friendly against Malaysia following some valiant displays for his club in the AFC Cup Play-off Qualifiers. Sohel made a number of saves from close range to hold the Malaysians to a goalless draw in last Saturday's friendly, which seems to have charged him up for the Australia challenge. The lad from Chittagong said he feels no pressure and is ready to put up his natural display against the Socceroos. “I don't have any additional pressure because I want to play my own game,” said Sohel over the phone from Perth, Australia yesterday. “Everyone is telling me that I have played well against Malaysia and I want to carry that performance into the match against Australia.” “I don't know what will happen against Australia and I also don't want to keep that in mind. Whatever happens, I will be trying to put my best effort,” said Sohel. The goalkeeper was out of action for nearly one-and-a-half month following a knee injury during the latter part of the Bangladesh Premier League. He went into rehabilitation phased where he trained under goalkeeping coach Christian Schweichler before returning to action at the fag end of the league. Replacing Mazharul Islam Himel as Sheikh Jamal's number one, Sohel had some fine performances as the Dhanmondi giants earned a play-off spot in the AFC Cup. With their backs to the wall, Sohel almost single-handily kept FC Alga Bishkek at bay at their own backyard to earn his side the play-off spot. Those performances helped him earn back his place in the national team after missing the first two qualifiers against Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan at home in June. “I have improved a lot under Christian (Schweichler), admitted the tall goalkeeper. “I have learnt a lot of things from him and I think that's why my performance graph is going upward.” However, Sohel knows that the Socceroos, at their own turf, will be a completely different challenge altogether. So he conceded that Bangladesh will have to put on a collective effort, beginning from himself and the defenders right up to those in the front line to keep the four-time World Cuppers at bay. “To overcome the challenge of the Australian attack, not only goalkeeper but also the defenders and the rest of the team, will have to play as a unit,” said Sohel. Print Version Archives Special Supplements TRENDS Xtra Youth Jobs Advertise Thursday, September 17, 2015 HOME POLITICS BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL NATIONAL SPORTS EDITORIAL ENTERTAINMENT You are here: Home » Sports Football Search Search Sohel ready for Socceroos September 2, 2015 12:20 am · 0 Comments Views: 23 Staff Correspondent Bangladesh’s inform goalkeeper Shahidul Alam Sohel is keen to continue his superb form under the bar when they take on reigning Asian Cup champions Australia in their third World Cup qualifying match in Perth on Thursday. The Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club keeper missed his country’s first two World Cup qualifying games against Bangladesh national team goalkeeper Shahidul Alam Sohel (R) listens to team’s German Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan due goalkeeping coach Christian Schweichler during a training session at the Perth Soccer Club, to meniscus injury on his left Dorrein on Monday. — Courtesy BFF foot. But after returning from injury, Sohel performed brilliantly for his club in their two AFC Cup playoff qualifying matches against Kyrgyzstan giants FC Alga and Macau champions Casa Benfica on August 13 and 15 respectively. In both the matches, the tall keeper made some fine saves to propel Jamal into the AFC Cup playoffs round. Sohel, then continued his fine form to hold hosts Malaysia with a goalless draw in their FIFA international friendly match in Malaysia on Tuesday. ‘We played really well against Malaysia,’ the shotstopper told New Age over phone from Perth on Tuesday. ONLINE POLL ‘I believe that will boost our confidence ahead of the game against Australia.’ ‘Everybody admired my performance and I want to continue that form against Australia as well.’ Sohel, however, admitted that Australia will be a much tougher opponent than Malaysia. ‘Australian attacking lineup is much stronger than Malaysia,’ said the keeper. Do you think it will be justified for the ‘So, not only the keeper but also the whole team including the defenders will have to perform to their optimum to overcome government to reduce the proposed rate of transit this hurdle.’ and transhipment fees under pressure from Sohel also said the Dutch coach Lodewijk de Kruif is giving importance to their defence. Also they are working on how to India? utilise the chances that they will obtain from counterattack. ‘Besides defending well the coach is also planning to attack the Socceroos from counterattack’, said Sohel. Yes No Like 72 No comment 0 Comments New Age 1 Login Vote View Results Recommend ⤤ Share Sort by Oldest Start the discussion… Most Commented Most Viewed Comments 1. HT Imam accuses US ambassador of hindering polling 5 COMMENTS Be the first to comment. 2. Ananta launches talent hunt show for actors 4 COMMENTS ✉ Subscribe d Add Disqus to your site ὑ Privacy 3. AL, allies deny people rights to vote, again 3 COMMENTS 4. ICC says it’s ‘5050’ call 3 COMMENTS 5. PART XXI : In one life: the memoirs of a third world civil servant 3 COMMENTS Home Sports 12:00 AM, August 30, 2015 / LAST MODIFIED: 12:00 AM, August 30, 2015 Booters stave off Malaysia 0 0 Bangladesh goalkeeper Shahidul Alam Sohel (L) hares out of the box to thwart a Malaysia attempt during the goalless draw in the friendly at the Shah Alam Stadium in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. PHOTO: BFF Sports Reporter The Shah Alam Stadium in Kuala Lumpur must be one of the luckiest venues for the Bangladesh national football team. The men in red and green, who had lost twice against Malaysia's under-22 team in the Bangabandhu Gold Cup at home earlier this year, have now held the senior Malaysia side to consecutive draws in friendlies at this venue in four years. The first stalemate came in 2011 when Zahid Hossain Emily's 82nd minute penalty had cancelled out an early goal by the Malaysians, before last night's bizarre goalless draw where, despite chasing their own shadows most of the time, the men in red and green managed to come out with a favourable result.