BFF to invite applications for eight technical positions

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) will soon invite applications for eight key technical positions, president Tabith Awal confirmed to The Daily Star, refuting media reports that former national team coach Lodewijk de Kruif has been chosen to helm the federation's technical director's post.

A report on T Sports TV channel on Saturday claimed that the Dutchman has been appointed as the TD while his former deputy, Rene Koster, will be given charge of youth development.

The position of BFF's technical director, currently held by Saiful Bari Titu, will be vacant after this month. According to media reports, Titu will likely be given a different role within the federation.

When contacted, Tabith Awal refuted the T Sports report, claiming that they have not had "official talks" with anyone regarding any of the positions.

"There is no info and BFF has not had any official talks with anyone," Tabith, currently in the USA, told The Daily Star through text message on Saturday night.

With a number of assignments for the senior team this year apart from three for youth teams -- U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers in September, U-17 SAFF Championship in October and U-17 Asian Cup Qualifiers in November -- BFF is looking for coaches that can guide the teams through these assignments.

BFF's technical committee chairman Kamrul Hasan Hilton told The Daily Star that they have prepared a note for vetting at the executive committee to appoint key technical personnel including technical director, assistant technical director, goalkeeping coach, assistant coach, etc for both the national team and the youth teams.

The positions of most of these coaches are usually made on piece-meal basis, ahead of international assignments. Apart from the national team's head coach Javier Cabrera, whose tenure ends in April 2026, the positions of assistant coach, filled in by Hasan Al Mamun and David Gomez, goalkeeping coach, filled in by Miguel Angel Iglesias -- are on temporary basis.

Hilton, however, also confirmed that there has been no "official approach'' made to de Kruif or anyone else regarding these positions even though he did not rule out the possibility of unofficial communication.

It may be noted that De Kruif, currently 55, had two stints with the Bangladesh national team as head coach from 2013 to 2015, with mixed results. While he was credited with giving the team an identify by introducing possession-based pressing football, the results under him were barely impressive.

While in charge of talented players like Mamunul Islam, Zahid Hossain and Zahid Hasan Emily, the Dutchman, with his deputy Koster, could guide Bangladesh to only three wins against seven defeats in 17 matches.

The Dutch duo, however, can be credited with finding a talent like Hemanta Vincent Bishwas, who was later taken to the Netherlands for a trial with a local club.

It may also be noted that De Kruif has not had a coaching job since leaving Bangladesh in 2015. Koster, meanwhile, has been involved with clubs in various places since leaving Bangladesh but he had taken BFF to the FIFA following the unceremonious end to his Bangladesh stint, winning the verdict of 80,000-euro payment.

Tabith, meanwhile, informed that they will take interviews with interested candidates for the eight technical positions before selecting anyone

"BFF is in the process of releasing ads for eight technical positions. Once the ads are published, we will take CVs of interested individuals, then go for interviews and finally seek budgetary support before assigning anyone or all eight."