Sri Lanka will play their first match in the Bangabadhu Gold Cup against Malaysia today (31st January) but the Sri Lankan coach is more focused on the World Cup qualifiers which will be in March.
“I am more focused on the World Cup qualifiers. This tournament will be a learning curve, an opportunity to gain experience for the team.” Nikola Kavazovic, Sri Lanka National Football coach mentioned in an exclusive interview with ThePapare.com before the squad left for Bangladesh.
After taking over the side 8 months back on the back of a horrendous SAFF Championship where Sri Lanka were humiliated 10-0 by Maldives, Kavazovic together with the Football Federation of Sri Lanka went onto pick an inexperienced squad where the average age of the squad is 23. It was widely questioned by many in the football fraternity but Kavazovic was clear in his philosophy.
“Winning just three matches in a decade is not experience. They had a losing mentality but these younger players come fresh and I am looking at a long term plan.” He said.
“We have trained well and these guys have come a long way in these 8 months I have worked with them. They learn quickly but there are still more to learn. That’s why I said this tournament will be mainly to test ourselves and gain experience. Come March for the World Cup qualifiers we will be ready.”
Sri Lanka captain Chathuranga Sanjeewa was in high praise of Kavazovic and his team and mentioned that he has worked on team building and mentality which has opened their football mindsets.
Sri Lanka will be missing the services of two of the rising stars of Sri Lankan football in Rizkhan Faizer (hamstring injury) and Zarwan Johar (foreign contract) but Kavazovic is confident the current crop is more than capable of putting on a good show with the addition of former Sri Lanka skipper Thilina Bandara who will add much needed composure at the back. Sri Lanka toured Bangladesh a couple of months back for a two match friendly where they drew the first 1-1 and lost the other 1-0. The lads played in front of 30,000 vociferous fans so will be accustomed to the conditions and environment.
Squad
Chathuranga Sanjeewa (Captain) – Nalaka Roshan (Vice-Captain) – Sujan Perera (Vice Captain) – Dasun Paranawithana – Mohomed Imran – Tharindu Eranga – Asikur Rahuman – Charitha Rathnayake – Subash Madushan – Mohomed Hakeem – Thilina Bandara – Mohomed Rifnaz – Punsara Senanayake – Madushan De Silva – Sajith Kumara – Kavindu Ishan – Dharshaka Chandrarathne – Udesh Shanaka – Mohomed Rizni – Gnanaruban Vinoth – Nipuna Bandara – Mohomed Fazal – Shanmugaraja Sanjeev
1.Head Coach – Nikola Kavazovic
2.Sri Lankan coach – Sampath Perera
3.Assistant coach – Dudley Steinwall
4.Goalkeeping coach – Mahinda Galagedera
5.Manager – Balendra Anthony
6.Chef de Mission – Mohomed Rameez
7.Masseur – Abdul Barshith
8.Team Assistant – Roshan Pradeep
“Malaysia is a serious team which has been playing together for several years. They won Bangladesh 1-0 but they could have scored at least five. They hit the bar 3 times! Dominated in every moment of the game, Bangladesh only had one chance at goal.” Kavazovic expressed his views all the way from Bangladesh after watching the tournament’s opening match.
“Team for every aspect, with a clear philosophy and style of play. It is easy to see that long term plan and work standing behind them.” He went onto say.
Sri Lanka will lineup in a 3-1-4-2 formation where Sajith Kumara will sit just in front of the back three while Chathuranga Sanjeeva and Shanmugaraja Sanjeev will be the two strikers.
Sujan Perera (GK) – Tharindu Eranga, Thilina Bandara, Subash Madushan – Sajith Kumara – Kavindu Ishan, Nalaka Roshan, Mohomed Rifnaz, Madushan De Silva – Chathuranga Sanjeeva, Shanmugaraja Sanjeev.
