Dooley hails Bangladesh football's 'powerful heartbeat' ahead of San Marino friendly

Bangladesh national football team's new head coach Thomas Dooley has expressed his admiration for the country's passion for football, saying that the sport possesses a "powerful heartbeat" that can be felt every day.

The Bangladesh team departed Dhaka on Sunday for San Marino, where they will take on the hosts in a FIFA international friendly on June 5. The match will serve as the first assignment for Dooley since taking charge of the national side.

Dooley named a 23-member squad for the tour, with goalkeeper Anisur Rahman Zico making his return to the national setup after a 19-month absence.

Despite spending only a few days in Dhaka and overseeing three training sessions, the German-American coach said he has already been struck by the enthusiasm surrounding football in Bangladesh.

Taking to Facebook before the team's departure, Dooley praised the level of public interest ahead of what is officially a friendly fixture.

"As we leave for Europe for our upcoming test match, I continue to be amazed by the passion for football in Bangladesh," Dooley wrote.

"This is not a World Cup qualifier. It is not a continental championship. It is not even a match against a higher-ranked opponent. It is simply a friendly test game against a team ranked below us. Yet the media attention has been extraordinary. Cameras lined both sides of the field. Reporters everywhere. Fans following every step."

The 64-year-old coach said the overwhelming interest reflects the deep-rooted love for football across the country.

"That level of interest says everything about how much this country loves football. The expectations, the passion, and the support are immense. It is a privilege for me, our staff and players to represent millions of people who care so deeply about the game," he added.

"Bangladesh football has a powerful heartbeat, and you can feel it every single day."

Midfielder Hamza Choudhury, along with Shamit Shome and Zayyan Ahmed, are set to join the squad in San Marino.

Following three training sessions in Dhaka, Bangladesh are scheduled to hold four more sessions in San Marino as they continue preparations for Thursday's friendly.