Just two days after airing complaints over the living standards at BKSP, the national team’s Dutch head coach Lodewijk de Kruif seems to be content and will continue the training camp as per schedule.
A local newspaper reported yesterday quoting De Kruif that he had threatened to leave BKSP if the situation did not improve. De Kruif, who is currently conducting a residential camp with assistant coach Rene Koster for the national under-23 side ahead of the forthcoming 17th Asian Games, denied making such comments saying, “It’s not true”.
Earlier Wednesday, De Kruif told the media that the living standards of the BKSP International Hostel is horrible and it is impossible for them to reside in it. Bangladesh Football Federation vice president Tabith Awal, also a member of the national teams committee, visited BKSP yesterday and talked with the coaches following which the situation changed drastically. Both the parties said there are no prevailing problems adding that the conversation was friendly.
“What we discussed today is a positive discussion for now. I don’t want to go into any details,” said De Kruif after the meeting.
“Most of the topics of the conversation was friendly. What has been published in media was wrong. There were few problems [that] have been solved before I came here,” said Tabith adding, “They are happy here. The camp is at BKSP, it will stay there. Our main focus is on the national side.”
Tabith went on to say the team will play two or three friendly matches before the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea with one of those clashes set to be against Thailand. The opponents and the final schedule will be finalised after the men’s football competition’s draw on August 19.
“The team are likely to play two or three friendly matches before leaving for South Korea. The plan to continue the camp at BKSP is the same and nobody complained about anything,” Tabith added.
The team have been training at BKSP for the last six days and De Kruif is satisfied with the players but complained about the pitches.
“They are working very hard. There is a little problem with the pitches because of the rainy season. The pitch has water and this is difficult for the boys to train on it. The ball is not running, the ball is not gliding. But I’m happy with the players. They are doing their best,” said the 44-year old Dutch coach.
“I was not in the country for the last four months. I could see that some of the players took on some kilos. It has happened before. I don’t know if I can really blame them. It gives me an answer that the local teams are not working very professionally. They are not training to bring the boys to a higher level.”
