Anisur Rahman
BDNEWS Staff Writer
Dhaka, July 7 (BDNEWS) – Bangladesh's former national football coach George Kotan arrived Dhaka Thursday morning to take the charge of Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Sangha.
Austrian coach Kotan, who guided Bangladesh to clinch the SAFF football title in January 2003, has replaced recently sacked local coach Safiqul Islam Manik.
Manik was sacked Tuesday evening accusing of his apathy, negligence and disregard to official decisions and breach of club discipline.
Kotan, who is still a FIFA Goal Project coach of Germany, told BDNEWS Thursday at the ground of Uttara Arms Battalion Police that he was happy to be in Bangladesh for the second time.
"It was surprising to me after receiving an offer from Chowdhury (Shah Alam Chowdhury) on last Friday and I confirmed the offer Tuesday," Kotan said, "I have agreed to sign an agreement with Muktijoddha Sangsad as Bangladeshi booters are known to me."
That means after being confirmed from Kotan, Muktijoddha Sangsad KC sacked Manik the same day.
After leaving Bangladesh January in 2003, two months later Kotan joined the FIFA Goal Project as a coach of Germany.
He said that his main job of Germany was to make the football popular among the boys and he coaches the age-level footballers in rural areas and to organize six-a-side football match two days in a week.
The former Bangladesh coach, who is staying at a rest house--Plaza Inn Limited at Uttara, said that he had primarily signed a six-month agreement with Muktijoddha and would think to extend the agreement later after the preliminary term.
"I have come here to make Muktijoddha Sangsad champions in the ongoing premier league and we must be champions, said a confident Austrian.
After arriving Dhaka, Kotan went to Muktijoddha Sangsad camp at Baridhara and inquired of the players and visited rooms of the players even the kitchen room. He also talked to the booters individually and groups.
Later, he made a two-hour practice for the players in afternoon.
Muktijoddha skipper Aminul Islam said that they were happy getting Kotan and the moral-level of the players became high.
Muktijoddha Sangsad, who hold the fourth-position with 13 points from seven matches, Friday face the promotee Farashganj, who also are in the fourth-spot with 13 points from an equal number of matches.
BDNEWS/2036 hrs
