TDS Desk:

Javier Cabrera will remain as head coach of Bangladesh national football team, at least until the first Asian Cup Qualifiers match against India in March, according a high-placed official from Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF). The Spaniard’s contract with the Bangladesh Football Federation has run out at the end of December last year. He left Bangladesh for during the Christmas holidays.

While there has been speculation whether the contract with the Spaniard, who spent three years in charge of the national team, will be extended or whether there will be a new coach in charge, BFF’s media committee chairman Amirul Islam Babu hinted to the media that the 40-year-old will guide the team against India.

“Whenever Cabrera calls for camp, Hamza (Choudhury) will join the camp from the first day and will start training from the first day,” Babu told the media on Tuesday. “The BFF’s and Cabrera’s main focus will be the India game and how we can win that game,” Babu, a seasoned organiser and former manager of the national team, added.

The issue of coach appointment is overseen by the BFF president and national teams committee chairman Tabith Awal.

While there has been no official announcement from BFF, with BFF general secretary Emran Hossain saying “they will only inform once and official decision has been made”, Babu’s statement clearly points out that an agreement might have been reached to keep the Spaniard for at least the next assignment – the match away to India on March 5. Bangladesh’s second match of the Asian Cup Qualifiers will be against Singapore at home in June.