Male' Maldives: Pakistan head coach Nolberto Solano says his side is eager to make the most of the Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament as they prepare to open their campaign against Bangladesh in Malé.
Speaking ahead of the tournament opener, the former Peru international expressed his delight at being part of a competition that offers national teams valuable match experience and regular fixtures.
“First of all, we are very pleased to be here,” Solano said. “This kind of tournament is something every manager enjoys. Sometimes there are long breaks between international fixtures, but this competition gives us a great opportunity to play and keep the players active.”
Pakistan will face Bangladesh in the opening match of the four-nation tournament, which also features hosts Maldives and Afghanistan.
Solano emphasized that representing the national team comes with responsibility and respect, regardless of the opposition.
“When you play for the national team, you play with respect against the best players from other countries. Every team is working hard and representing their nation. This tournament is a great experience for us,” he said.
The Pakistan coach also highlighted the tournament's importance in his team's long-term preparations, with future Asian Cup and World Cup qualification campaigns on the horizon.
“We are looking ahead to the future. We have several friendly competitions this year, and next year we will start competing again in qualification tournaments. Whether it is Afghanistan, Maldives or Bangladesh, these are tough opponents. I heard Bangladesh are bringing a younger squad, but it is still a national team. We have to respect every opponent, be professional and represent Pakistan in the best way possible.”
Solano added that every side arriving in Malé will have the same objective.
“I believe all teams come here with the mentality to win the tournament. We hope to start the competition in the best way.”
Bangladesh aiming for the final
Bangladesh head coach Maruful Haque also outlined ambitious goals for the tournament, dismissing suggestions that his side is participating merely to gain experience.
Haque acknowledged that Bangladesh had limited preparation time after the conclusion of the domestic Premier League season on May 23.
“Our Premier Division finished on May 23 and after that we called the players for training. We only had five training sessions, which is not enough for an international tournament,” he said. “However, I am happy with the players' performance, concentration and hard work during those sessions.”
The Bangladesh squad includes six senior national team players as well as three members of the country's recent SAFF U-20 Championship-winning side. According to Haque, the rest of the squad is made up of promising young footballers with experience in national youth teams.
“We have six national team players and three players from the last SAFF U-20 squad. The others are talented young players who have represented Bangladesh at age-group level,” he noted.
Despite fielding a youthful team with an average age of 23, Haque believes his players are capable of challenging for silverware.
“I know we are competing against three very strong teams, especially Maldives as the host nation, but the boys understand the challenge and they are ready to fight. Insha Allah, we want to move forward and reach the final.”
The Bangladesh coach rejected the notion that the tournament should be viewed solely as a developmental opportunity.
“Some people are saying this tournament is only for experience, but that is not our mindset. From the very first training session, our target has been to reach the final. Insha Allah, that remains our objective. We are not here just for experience,” he said.
The Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament gets underway with Bangladesh taking on Pakistan 1600 hrs today, as both teams look to make an early statement in a competition that serves as an important platform for regional football development and international preparation.
