Saintfiet set to sign BFF deal next week

Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday morning to take charge of the Bangladesh football team and immediately upon his arrival said he might announce the 32-man preliminary squad on Thursday. Upon his return, Saintfiet informed that he is happy to be back and looking forward to the official signing as the Belgian is likely to sign a three-month official contract with the Bangladesh Football Federation at the start of next week. “I'm very happy to be back in Bangladesh. After my vacation in Belgium, I told my wife I miss Bangladesh. I was looking forward to be back and now we can start working. The real work starts now,” said Saintfiet. The 43-year old continued, “We will have the official signing and presentation. And I will see the last six matches of the [Bangladesh Premier] league's sixth round. Soon we will start the national camp ahead of the important match against Bhutan. “I will announce the squad of 32 (on Thursday). In general I'm satisfied with the players. I saw some new interesting players in Chittagong. There are players who are used to be selected and some new ones as well.” BFF general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag on the other hand said, “We tried to make it official [on Wednesday] but we couldn't make up the time as it is the last working day of the week. We hope we can arrange the signing early next week.” Shohag also stated that the official signing of Saintfiet and Bangladesh's new technical and strategical advisor Paul Smalley will be done on the same day. Meanwhile, the national team will begin their residential training camp this Sunday ahead of the Asian Football Confederation's Cup Qualifiers Play-off against Bhutan on September 6 and October 10.