Bangladesh Face Syria

Bangladesh will kick off their Nehru Cup campaign today when they take on favourites Syria at the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi in the second match of the tournament.

Zee Sports will telecast the match live from 7.30pm Bangladesh time.

The event got under way yesterday in the Indian capital with hosts India facing rank-outsiders Cambodia after President Pratibha Patil declared the five-team meet open.

Bangladesh have never beaten Syria - the highest ranked team in the tournament - but both their previous meetings in the 80s resulted in close shaves.

Syria, currently placed 113 in FIFA rankings, won 1-0 when they first met Bangladesh in Kuwait in the Asian Nations Cup in 1980.

The two sides were face to face again four years later in Indonesia in the Asian Cup qualifiers with the Syrians winning 2-1.

However, the two teams headed separate directions since then. While the Syrians have reached just behind the top Asian nations, Bangladesh have hardly impressed outside south Asian regional tournaments.

Bangladesh, under Indian coach Syed Nayeemuddin, have a new look team that would be the base of the SAFF Championship to be held this December.

Nayeemuddin, expected to exploit his familiar conditions to boost the team's performance on Indian soil, has picked four new faces in the squad after retirement of a few players and injury to number one goalkeeper Aminul and centre-back Sujan.

Senior striker Alfaz Ahmed, however, returned from international retirement to boost the squad, led for the first time by central defender Nazrul Islam.

Bangladesh, who reached New Delhi on Thursday, trained yesterday at the Zanki Devi Memorial College ground for a couple of hours and all the players were in sound condition, according to a message received in Dhaka.

Meanwhile, Syria were the first foreign team to arrive and got more time to get accustomed to the conditions.

They brought a relatively young side under coach Fajer Ibrahim, who has been in charge for the last two years.

They had to leave six key players back home with four preparing for this month's Beijing Olympics qualifier against Bahrain while two other Syrians were not released by their clubs in Kuwait and Jordan.

The Syrian team also have several under-23 players who participated in the Doha Asian Games last year.

Meanwhile, Nayeemuddin told Indian media on arrival that he has to live up to the reputation of being an Indian coach in a neighbouring country.

It was under Nayeem that India lifted the 2005 SAFF Championship beating Bangladesh in the final in Pakistan but this time the Dronacharya Award winner faces a much tougher challenge.

Agencies add: "I have always believed in playing to win and this won't be any different," the 60-year-old coach said.

Nayeem is the only person to have won both the Arjuna Award (as player) and the Dronacharya (as coach).

India might have tasted their last success under Nayeem, but the veteran coach was at the receiving end when players joined hands to protest against the coach's alleged dictatorial attitude.

Nayeem was sacked unceremoniously but he now maintains that he has no hard feelings against the players or the All Indian Football Federation (AIFF).

"I am a sportsman and I take all these things sportingly. They (players) are a part of me and I have no hard feelings for them. These things keep happening in a sportsperson's life," he said philosophically.

"Here nothing is new for me. It's my country and I will also be playing at the same old stadium."

When asked if revenge against India is on his mind this time, Nayeem smiled and said: "I have come here to win the hearts of my people."

'The match against Syria will be the first big test for us and then we have to take it one game at a time,' said Nayeem.

He has also promised his wards a treat at the famous Karim's restaurant in the walled city if they perform well in the tournament.

While interacting with media persons, Nayeem saw current India coach Bob Houghton pass by and rushed forward to greet the Englishman.

"I am looking forward to learning from you for the sake of Bangladesh team, if you are not selfish," Nayeem jokingly told Houghton, who smiled in return.