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Manik recalls veterans
Enamul, Pranotosh new faces for Merdeka
Sports Reporter




Abahani midfielder Pranotosh Kumar Das and Farashganj striker Enamul Haque got their first national calls as Bangladesh coach Shafiqul Islam Manik yesterday named his preliminary squad for next month's Merdeka Cup football tournament.

In his first assignment, Manik also decided to rely on the written-off footballers, recalling the likes of Alfaz, Matiur Munna, Titu, Shuvra and Parvez Babu. The expected recalls were of Sujan, Robin, Zahid Hossain and Himel.

The 30 footballers have been asked to report to the new coach this afternoon at the BFF Bhaban.

Bangladesh, who participated in the prestigious tournament last year after a long gap and failed to win a single match, have been invited for the October 15-25 meet at the Malaysian capital.

Among the eight returns, Alfaz had been called back from international retirement but the former captain was ignored after a mediocre Nehru Cup in India.

Brothers Union's Munna, Shuvra and Parvez and Muktijoddha skipper Titu were not considered due to lack of form while Sujan (Abahani) and Zahid (Brothers) were victims of long-term injury. Robin (Mohammedan) looked a certainty but was a last minute elimination from the SAFF squad.

Sujan's impressive comeback in the recently concluded Federation Cup for the sky-blues all but convinced everyone that the country's top centre-back is closing in on his peak.

Enamul's five goals in the Fed Cup got him the nod and give Manik's old student at Muktijoddha Sangsad -- for whom he had scored a spectacular goal in an AFC Cup away match -- a chance to contest with Emily and Robin for a place in the striking zone.

Pranotosh, on the other hand, proved that he has matured enough to claim his place as a holding midfielder.

Manik, who dropped Moha-mmedan's Komol and Faisal Mahmud from the SAFF squad, however, will have very little time to prepare as the professional league kicks off in just over a week.

He is also not likely to get the players during the Eid vacation and would hardly get a week just before the tournament.

One might be tempted to question his decision to pick up so many 'bygone' footballers but his predecessor Abu Yusuf was harshly criticised when he had made a bid to develop a young side ignoring the seniors, only leading to disaster.

It seems that the former national fullback, who is expected to get just one tournament to impress his employers, would try to find a safe combination of youth and experience.

The 46-year-old, who has chosen highest 11 players from the sky-blue part of the city, has eight from Mohammedan and seven from Brothers Union.

Although there are 11 defenders and as many midfielders in the preliminary squad, Manik's love for a five-pack backline could result in a defence heavy national side.

Tagged ultra-defensive, Manik's favourite 5-3-2 formation often robbed a formidable team like Muktijoddha off glory and also saw a mediocre Mohammedan finish a distant runners-up in last year's B. League.