The Bangladesh Football Federation’s (BFF) three-day mega trial opened in Dhaka with more than 50 players from 14 countries competing for a shot at the national jersey. Many of them are expatriates or players of Bangladeshi origin, looking to break into either the senior or age-based squads.
Forget the drills for a second. The real opponent on the training field in Dhaka was the heat. It was relentless, and you could see it hammering the stamina of anyone not ready for that kind of humidity.
So what’s the game plan for that? One player, with a shrug, had the only answer there is: “We have to get used to it. This is Bangladesh.”
Despite the heat, the trial proceeded on schedule. The first session began in the morning with a younger group of players, mostly under 20. About 20 footballers trained for roughly two hours before returning to their hotel.
Later in the day, the older batch — players between 19 and 24 — took the field. All shared a common goal: earning a spot on the national team.
“It’s good to be here. Everyone played well. The energy was there. We brought it up today,” said one of the afternoon players.
Some commented on the level of talent across the board.
“There’s a lot of skill on display. The temperature was tough on all of us, but the quality of play stayed high.”
BFF officials confirmed that the main objective is to identify standout performers who can contribute at the national level. A final screening is scheduled for June 30.
“We’ll complete the evaluation then. After that, everyone will know what kind of players emerged from this event,” one official said.
The trial’s first two days were closed to the public. But on Monday, the final day, the stadium will open for spectators. A friendly match will mark the conclusion of the trial, offering fans a chance to watch the top candidates in action.
The federation hopes that from this diverse pool, several players will make their way into the national setup.
For the participants, football is only part of the story. It’s also about building connections, seizing new opportunities, and representing a larger purpose.
