In the last three years, no local coach has been required to go outside the country. The then controversial technical director Paul Thomas Smalley was the trusted name for the coaching course. English-born Smalley has taken a number of courses while working here. Hundreds of licensed coaches have also come out under him, although there are many controversies about this. Now he is no more. Saiful Bari Titu in new charge. He can also conduct coaching courses as an AFC Pro licensed coach. Still, 5 coaches from Bangladesh went out of the country within a short span of time to do coaching courses. But why?
Rashedul Islam, manager of Fortis FC, has licensed AFC ‘B’ in Karnataka, India a few days ago. He went there several times and brought the certificate. Not only Rasheedul, four coaches from the country have gone there for the AFC ‘A’ license starting today in Maldives.
Among them, the national team’s assistant coach Hasan Al Mamun, Fortis FC’s assistant coach Atiqur Rahman Mishu, Elite Academy’s Mehdi Hasan Siddiqui and Brothers Union’s Gambia coach Omar Sissay.
The cost of coaching courses in the country is much less. If you go outside the country, the cost increases several times. Still, why are the coaches doing courses outside the country! The question was initially put towards Rashedul Islam.
The former midfielder of the national team told the Bangla Tribune, ‘Actually, when I went to India to do the course, there was no technical director in Buffe. There was no course. So I went to India on my own request and did the course. If it was in the country, then maybe there was an opportunity to do it here.’
After that, Rashedul went there because the quality of the course in India is also good. Because the good or bad of a course largely depends on who are the other participants in the course. When you see that other coursemates are very skilled, then you will want to take yourself to that level.’
Hasan Al Mamun, the assistant coach in the national team, also said in a somewhat helpless tone before going to the Maldives, “I have looked at Bafufe.” Titu Bhai (Director of Technicare) could not confirm whether this license course will be held this year. Since I am working in the national team, the license is very necessary. So I am doing it there after getting the opportunity in Maldives.’
Same is the case with others. An AFC Pro or ‘A’ license holder is required to stand in the dugout in the AFC National Team or Premier League. So those who don’t have it, they also want to get it fast. Again, Paul Smalley is working as Technical Director in Maldives. This license course will be under him.
Since many people have a close relationship with Smalley. So there is facility to license there. Hasan Al Mamun said, ‘Smally knows all of us. Since the course is not being held in Dhaka, I am contacting there. Coaches from other countries will also be there. There are also opportunities to learn. And if I was in Dhaka then I wouldn’t have looked for an opportunity to do it in the Maldives with so much money.’
Technical Director Titu was in Malaysia but did not get any response when we wanted to talk about the whole matter. However, BAUF general secretary Imran Hossain Tushar said positively, ‘We are starting the C license course. This license course is scheduled to be held in December. I hope that those who want to coach, they can do it.
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