Montenegrin Dragan Dukanovic will make his debut as the first overseas coach of Bangladesh Premier League defending champions Sheikh Russell against Chittagong Abahani at the Bangabandhu National Stadium today.
The 45-year-old coach who has an experience of 11 years in the arena has taken the helm of Russell two days ago after the officials cut the relations with Maruful Haque and he said, “I came to Dhaka with the reference of former Bangladesh national coach Zoran Djodevic, he was mainly the middle man.”
Dukanovic said it his first overseas job and he looks forward to a silver lining. “It’s a challenge for me, I played in Japan, I have some idea about the football of this part of the world. The standard is not very high, Zoran has also informed me about the standard of Bangladesh football, I find Russell in a little bit demoralized, lifting the team spirits is my first duty,” he said.
The coach is aware of the fact that Russell already had failed to defend to titles and said, “Russell won three titles last season but now the league title is only thing to defend, I have seen Sheikh Jamal is a little ahead of us, but as player I have always taken the field to win and as a coach it has not changed, I will try my best to make Russell the champions and I know it is not a easy job.”
The coach also has set his eyes to the AFC President’s Cup. “I hope Russell will reach the second round, however now I can field four foreigners whereas it will be two in the AFC President’s Cup, it’s a significant difference, however two teams will qualify and I hope Russell will be one of them,” said Dukanovic.
Talking about the formation of the team Dukanovic said as he was a striker he loves an attacking brand of football. “I love 4-3-3 but it depends on the situation and the opponent, I love Carlo Ancelotti and and Marcelo Lippi and they are my idols,” said the Montenegrin
Dukanovic, who has been appointed till June, also said he played for his country’s under-17 and 21 teams while he also played in the 1996-97 Uefa Champions League.
