Latics in Bangladesh Diary

Here is an interesting diary written by Carl Marsden, of the Oldham Advertiser. He was with the the touring Oldham Athletic for the first five days, and writes about his views of Bangladesh, on and off the football pitch. Click on the links below to read:

Day 1 - Monday
OLDHAM Athletic’s arrival in Bangladesh has been greeted by huge media interest today.

Day 2 - Tuesday
ACCLIMATISATION was the buzz word on day two of Latics’ historic tour of Bangladesh - read Carl's latest blog entry, plus pictures and audio interviews from Bangladesh.

Day 3 - Wednesday
PEOPLE will inevitably focus on match results but Oldham Athletic’s tour of Bangladesh is about so much more than that.

Day 4 - Thursday
NOTHING epitomises the crazed chaos that is Bangladesh better than Oldham Athletic’s arrival in the Sylhet Stadium on day four of their madcap tour.

Day 5 - Friday
IT'S my fifth and final day on Oldham Athletic's tour of Bangladesh and I have a confession to make.

Abahani Ltd Dhaka 0-0 Oldham Athletic

Abahani played out a goalless draw with English tourists, Oldham Athletic, in the third and last exhibition match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

The match produced a lot of excitement with both Abahani and Oldham playing attacking football, but failed to produce any result.

Abahani dominated most of the proceedings and got several chances though failed to convert any of those into goal, much to the disappointment of the local fans in the big bowl.

They came close to scoring as early as in the 14th minute, but Awudu Ibrahim's powerful shot from vantage position whistled past the post. The hosts got another chance in the 22nd minute, this time a feeble shot by Tipu from inside the D-box went straight to the safe hands of Oldham custodian Josh Bell.

Abahani were deprived of a goal in the 38th minute when Ibrahim's powerful shot sailed over the crossbar. After the break, Tipu missed his second chance to give Abahani the lead when his angular shot from inside the D-box was parried away brilliantly by Josh Bell for a corner in the 65th minute.

The visitors got two good chances in either half of the match, but failed to materialise any of them into goal. They launched the first attack in the 15th minute when Matt Barlow's superb header from inside the D-box off a Deane Smalley cross narrowly missed the target. The English side then missed their second chance in the 78th minute when a superb shot by substitute Adam Edwards, off a Beeley, pass was foiled by Abahani custodian Biplob Chatterjee.

Earlier, the tourists conceded a 1-2 defeat to Mohammedan Sporting in the first exhibition match at the same venue on Wednesday, but managed a 1-1 draw with Bangladesh Under-23 football team at the Sylhet Stadium on Thursday.

Latics to Meet Abahani in Last Friendly of Tour

The youth side of Oldham Athletic will look forward to end their tour of Bangladesh with a win when they take on Dhaka giants and current B. League joint-leaders Abahani.

The exhibition match, which kicks off at 5pm at the Bangabandhu National Stadium, will be telecast live by satellite channel ATN Bangla.

The Latics, who lost 2-1 to a lively Mohammedan in their opener in Dhaka, drew 1-1 with Bangladesh national under-23 team in Sylhet.

The under-20 side from Manchester have struggled due to heat and humidity but the visitors hoped that the last few days have given the boys huge experience and time to adapt to these conditions ahead of their last game.

Bangladesh U-23s 1-1 Oldham Athletic

Michael Pearson crashed home a fine strike as Latics earned a hard-fought draw against the Bangladesh under-23 side.

Tony Philliskirk's outfit excelled themselves in baking 39-degree heat in the town of Sylhet, with Director Ian Hill describing them as "an absolute credit to the club."

Pearson put his side ahead with a sublime effort from the edge of the area after just quarter of an hour as Latics battled manfully in trying conditions.

The hosts equalised just before the break, with a strike from prolific Farashganj striker Mohammed Robin, but Latics were the better side once again in the second period and created a number of opportunities to win the game.

Mohammedan SC Dhaka vs Oldham Athletic

Mohammedan SC Dhaka Team

Oldham Athletic AFC Team

Oldham defender chases Mohammedan winger

Mohammedan's defender forces the ball off the striker

Mohammedan attacking down the flanks

Nigerian Paul contests Oldham Athletic goal keeper, Ryan Smith, for the ball

Paul slots in Mohammedan's second goal

Mohammedan SC Dhaka 2-1 Oldham Athletic

Oldham Athletic received a hostile welcome when the youth side of the English club lost their first exhibition match to Mohammedan Sporting Club yesterday.

Nigerian forwards Mwach Ukwu Paul and Emeka Christina struck first half goals in the home side's 2-1 victory at the Bangabandhu National Stadium as the visitors wilted under scorching heat.

Matt Barlow scored a consolation goal for the Latics, who were forced to make nine changes at the break and looked better under lights.

A few thousand crowds, however, enjoyed a lively start by the black and whites who went ahead after 20 minutes.

Paul and Emeka dictated the terms early and their hard work paid off after Zahid initiated the move at the right flank. Taking the ball from the midfielder, Paul got inside the box but his shot came off a forest of legs and Emeka made no mistake to drill the ball into the bottom corner.

Six minutes later, Emeka forced a fine save by Ryan Smith, the goalkeeper who has already played for the senior side in the Coca Cola League 1.

Playing 4-3-3, the Oldham struggled for control in the middle but Adam Edwards threatened to score on the half hour, only to be denied by Nigerian Peter Odafe's brilliant tackle inside the box.

Mohammedan doubled the lead ten minutes from the break with Paul's clinical finish after a through ball by Mithu. Paul, the top-scorer of the ongoing B. League who has scored a double hattrick this season, got behind a defender at the left side and exquisitely placed a left-footer into the far post from a tight angle.

It should have been 3-0 but Emeka, who broke an offside trap with Paul's pass, saw Smith palm away his shot from one-on-one.

In the last five minutes, Oldham made desperate attempts for a comeback but Barlow hit the base of the sidebar after going round rival goalkeeper Himel, who held Ashley Kelly's weak header in the injury time.

The half time came as a relief for the tired booters and only Barlow and Ross Thaker returned when the game resumed. The fresh legs pushed hard and it took Latics three minutes to reduce the arrears through Barlow, who sidefooted home from the edge of the six-yard box after meeting a low cross by Deane Smalley from the right.

With the boys in blue having the edge, Smalley fluffed a series of attempts on the hour as Oldham's chances to equalise evaporated. The tall forward was set up by Kallum Higginbotham after a flowing counter attack by Edwards but the first shot went straight to Himel. Smalley hit the rebound once again to the keeper from point-blank range and the third time, his cross was defended by the backline.

Ten minutes later, Higgin-botham invaded the penalty area with a ball from Owen but Himel rushed out of his line to dispossess the striker.

Mohammedan regained control in the dying minutes and after a few long-range efforts went off target, Mithu caught substitute keeper Josh bell napping with a 25-yard volley that came off the crossbar just before the final whistle.

"It was a good game and both sides wasted chances. Mohammedan played well and I have to admit that my boys were really undone by the conditions," said coach Tony Philliskirk.

"It was too hot and humid and the players were tired after a long trip. We know what to do and hope to settle it by our next match, the Latics coach hoped.

The team will visit BKSP today for promotional works with local players and coaches before travelling to Sylhet where they play their second friendly, against Bangladesh Under-23s, on May 12. Oldham will return to Dhaka to round of their trip with a match against Abahani on May 12.

Oldham Youths in Town

The young footballers of Oldham Athletic, who arrived in Dhaka yesterday to play three exhibition matches, will have to deal with a very hot summer during their stay in Bangladesh.

The under-20 side from England's century-old club will begin their campaign today when they meet local giants Mohammedan Sporting Club at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

They will face the Bangladesh U-23s in Sylhet on May 10 and return to Dhaka for the last match against Abahani on May 12.

The two matches to be held in the capital will be telecast live by satellite channel ATN Bangla.

Apart from playing, the Latics will also be involved in promotional work with local players. It is likely that a number of Bangladeshi youngsters would be selected to visit the UK for further intensive training at a future date.

The club's CEO Alan Hardy informed at a press conference at BFF Bhaban yesterday afternoon that they have brought a number of coaches among the 18 officials.

The coaches will work with players to test their skill as well as local coaches to exchange modern technique. The programme will be held at BKSP tomorrow.

Players with satisfactory skills could well be trained at the Oldham Academy.

Although team captain Mike Pearson expressed his worries about the weather, coach Tony Philliskirk was confident that the local conditions would not reduce the team's performance.

"My players are professionals. Professionals are built for all conditions, so the heat won't be a problem," said Philliskirk.

He also said that six of his players have already played for the Latics senior team in the Coca Cola League 1, the third highest ranked league in England after Premiership and the Championship.

"It would be a valuable experience for the boys to play in these difficult conditions," told the coach adding that goalkeeper Ryan Smith has made most appearances for the senior side among the party to comer here.

"We will play positive football against Bangladesh," said captain Pearson, a central defender.

He said that they are looking forward to win all three friendly matches they and have a fair chance to do that as they have some talented booters.

"But the local weather is very hot, which may create some bad impact on our performance," said Pearson who admitted that he and his teammates were completely in the dark about Bangladesh football.

With most of the Bangladesh Football Federation out of town to join the Asian Football Confederation Congress in Kuala Lumpur, the federation held a rather poor show in arranging the press conference. BFF senior vice president Monir Ahmed was present.

Oldham, who crashed 2-0 to Championship (First Division) side Wolves in the FA Cup third round this year, were part of the inaugural Premiership season in 1992-93 and avoided relegation after winning a 4-3 thriller against Southampton in the last game. Eventually, the club whose home is Boundary Park within close vicinity of Old Trafford and Manchester City's new stadium City of Manchester were relegated in 1994-95.

Formerly known as Pine Villa FC, they started their journey as Oldham Athletic in 1899 and joined the Football League in 1907-08.

Oldham have never won a major trophy, but reached the League Cup final in 1990 (losing 1-0 to Nottingham Forest), finished league runners-up in 1915, and were FA Cup semifinalists in 1913 (losing to Aston Villa), 1990 and 1994 (losing both times to eventual winners Manchester United).

The tour is being supported by Royal Bengal Airlines, Shamoli Lifestyle, Dhaka Regency, Millon restaurant, Blue Tiffin restaurant, Shireen restaurant, Blue Ocean restaurant, Balti Taste, The Better Gym, Tricon Product Sourcing, G10 Design and Print and Marlboro Express.

Sponsors Announced for Oldham's Tour

The sponsor for the Oldham tour to Bangladesh, was announced as 'Dhaka Regency Hotel & Resort', at a press conference today.

The co-sponsors are Lemu, G10, Hunter Group, Tri-Con, GMG Airlines, Royal Bengal Airline, Shamoli Life Style, Channel S (UK), Marlboro Express and Hillside Apartment Limited.

Oldham Athletic CEO in Town

The CEO of Oldham Athletic, Alan Hardy, Tony Philliskirk (Oldham Youth Coach), Brian O'Hehir (Business Development Consultant of ABA Marketing Group), Mr Kenny (ABA Marketing Group) was present in front of the Electronic & Print Media of Bangladesh at BFF House. Oldham Athletic AFC will send its U-20 team to play three matches against Abahani, Mohammedan & the national U-23 team in May 2007.

Two days ago, the Oldham Delegate came to visit Bangladesh's hotel facilities, security, ground (match & training) & stadium facilities. President of BFF, Mr S.A. Sultan said, "To find the prosporous future of Bangladeshi players, we want long term realtionships with Oldham. This will help both of us develop good relationships between Bangladesh & the UK."

Alan Hardy, who can be seen below handing over Oldham's club jersey to S.A. Sultan, said, "We have recieved very good hospitality from the BFF officials with a warm reception. We are the first ever professional football club from the UK to come and play in Bangladesh. We are looking to play three friendly matches in May 2007, one in Sylhet & the other two in Dhaka. I think this tour wil be a wonderful experience for our young players. We have a 5 year contract with ABA Marketing Group & BFF to develop an intensive coaching & training program for the Bangladeshi youth players."

Tony Philliskirk (Oldham Youth Coach) said, "There is a Bangladeshi player named Iqbal Alam (aged 15 years) who is playing for our U-15 team. He is been with us since he was 12. He has played in the U-12, U-13 and U-14 teams of Oldham Athletic AFC. He plays in the centre back position and has good potentials. He will be offered a fulltime professional contract according to his performance." He added, "Our U-20 team will play against Abahani, Mohammedan & the U-23 Bangladesh national team. I think the matches will be competitive."

Oldham Athletic will take some potential young players from Bangladesh for training in Europe. Mr Alan Hardy said, "We are looking for young Bangladeshi talent for intensive training."

They will visit Sylhet tomorrow for venue inspection.