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Tuesday | October 27, 2026 | Dhaka

Topu Barman doesn’t want to see the same mistakes

 Sports Reporter
 Published: 12:03 AM, 27 October 2026

Bangladesh conceded 13 goals in three matches during the ASEAN Cup. Topu Barman has yet to put behind him.

The defender is determined to ensure that the same mistakes are not repeated in the SAFF Championship. He believes, if the team works together to manage their defense, they can prevent another flood of goals into their net.

The SAFF Championship begins in Dhaka on November 5. This tournament taking place on home soil, the Bangladesh team commenced their training at the National Stadium on Monday.

Speaking to the reporter before the session, Topu touched upon the team’s recent failure in the ASEAN Cup, while also expressing the dream of clinching the SAFF title-a feat they have not achieved in 23 years.

Topu said, “We conceded 3 goals in the first match and 9 in the last, it’s truly disappointing. I don’t even recall the last time we conceded 9 goals.

However, when it comes to conceding, we shouldn’t just blame the Goalkeepers or the defenders. To me, the most important thing is defending as a team. I can assure you that we won’t be conceding this many goals in the SAFF Championship.”

“I will give it my absolute best. I will have a role to play in terms of how we build play from the back and how we can strengthen the defensive line. I will also try to provide the necessary guidance to my teammates,” said Topu.

After eight years, Bangladesh will compete for South Asian football supremacy on home soil. Topu said, “The SAFF Championship is very special to us.

We are playing on our own turf again after eight years. We must fight hard and achieve our desired goal-winning the title after 23 years. To do that, we need to prepare accordingly.”

Bhutan will be Bangladesh’s first opponent in their quest for the title. Bangladesh will be without Hamza Choudhury and Farhaan Ali for that match on November 5. Hamza’s absence, in particular, is a cause for concern among his teammates.

Topu is keen to ensure that the absence of any single player does not negatively impact the team’s overall performance.

Bhutan and Sri Lanka are in Group A alongside Bangladesh for the SAFF Championship, which will take place from November 5 to 17. Group B will feature India, Pakistan, and the Maldives.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals. The two semi-finals will be held on November 14, and the final will take place on November 17.