Bangladesh football team’s Dutch head coach Lodewijk de Kruif arrived in Dhaka in the early hours of yesterday morning and pledged to focus on the national Under-23 side’s upcoming assignment in the 17th Asian Games scheduled to be held in Incheon, South Korea next month.
Kruif, who was accompanied by assistant coach Rene Koster, returned to the country after around four months reportedly due to a salary dispute with the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF).
Immediately upon his arrival in the capital city, the 44-year old Dutchman said, “I have a meeting with BFF president (Kazi Salahuddin) where we will discuss about our next plan and activity. Until then I can’t say anything.”
The hour-long meeting between the BFF boss and Dutch coach took place from 1pm yesterday at the residence of the federation’s president. “We discussed about the due wages but I can’t reveal particularly what it is as it is our personal matter. What I want to say is that, despite being late, at least now we have something to work on which is a positive sign. For now this is good news,” said Kruif after the meeting.
Casting aside all the differences in recent times, Kruif said his attention is now reserved for the forthcoming Asian Games. The Dutch duo will work with the national U-23 side that are one among 24 teams in the men’s football competition. In this regard, the BFF has already announced a 25-member preliminary squad with the residential camp slated for BKSP.
“Now we have to proceed with what we have got. Our main target is Asian Games. Although the time is very short we have to start the preparation to put up a positive result there,” added Kruif.
The players have been asked to report at the BFF office today at 12pm before heading for a meeting with Salahuddin. The assembled footballers will play a practice match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in the afternoon. The squad is then scheduled to leave for BKSP in the evening. The camp will come to an end on September 12.
De Kruif’s last assignment with Bangladesh was a Fifa international friendly against India on March 5 this year in Goa. Since then the BFF has failed to clear his outstanding wages and according to sources and reports, the coach is owing six months’ dues.
It was learned that BFF will pay 70 percent of the outstanding wages within two or three days and the rest will be paid shortly.