Former national forward-turned-coach Moududur Rahman Shuvo played a pivotal role in the Bangladesh U-21 hockey team's historic qualification for the Junior World Cup in his first assignment with the team. The BKSP coach, who holds FIH Level-2 credentials, had represented Bangladesh from 1998 to 2006 and retired from domestic hockey in 2010. In an interview with The Daily Star's Anisur Rahman, Shuvo discussed the team's dedication in securing their World Cup spot and the preparations required for next December's Men's Hockey Junior World Cup. 

The Daily Star (DS): First of all, congratulations on the maiden achievement of the U-21 hockey team. How difficult was it to achieve this feat, and did the allocation of six Asian quotas to the Junior World Cup help you?
Moududur Rahman Shuvo (MRS): When we learned that six teams from Asia would qualify for the Junior World Cup, we set our sights on securing a place because Bangladesh have been in sixth to seventh positions in Asia. The boys were also determined to secure a World Cup at any cost, and they really toiled hard since the qualification round of the AHF Asia Cup, from where they entered the final round after emerging champions. The boys were disciplined, dedicated and motivated to achieve the target, and they finally delivered by securing the place.

DS: How much could the Bangladesh Hockey Federation meet your requirements during the training camp at a time when the country was going through a transition period?
MRS: You know that there were hardly any high officials in most national federations at that time [post-August 05], but BHF president Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan did everything single-handedly because he realised that the Bangladesh U-21 team had the potential to do something, especially after the boys became champions in the qualification round. BKSP and its hockey department also extended their full support to the national hockey camp. Of course, the federation could not meet all the requirements I placed, but the boys and I did not have any problems because the boys were fully focused on qualifying for the World Cup instead of worrying about getting something or not from the federation. They wanted to deliver a breakthrough for the country's hockey.

DS: You were given the responsibility of head coach to guide the national team at any level. How challenging was it, and how did you prepare for this?
MRS: I also delivered the league title to Mohammedan Sporting Club in my first assignment. I was also assistant coach of the senior national team, and I know A to Z about this group of boys, whom I have been working with since they joined grade seven at BKSP. So, there was no challenge for me, but I believed that if I could do my work perfectly and the boys could hold on to the target, we would achieve it. In 2021, I completed a diploma in India where I worked with different Indian coaches, and I think I gained confidence from completing that course.

DS: You will agree that there is a big difference between the Asia Cup and the World Cup. How much do the Bangladeshi boys need to improve to reduce the gap?
MRS: I think the level of the Asia Cup is much higher than the AHF Cup, so it is similar for the Asia Cup and World Cup. As we have quite good time on our hands, we can take proper steps to reduce the gap by engaging them in activities such as holding the domestic league and the franchise league, where they can grow, mature, and gain match temperament by playing against senior players as well as foreign players. The federation can also cooperate in organising leagues, from which the boys can earn some bucks instead of worrying about their future.

DS: What should the World Cup final squad be based on?
MRS: Of course, we should pick the squad on the basis of performance. I have already told the boys that they might lose their place in the future if they can't maintain themselves. Besides, the players who were outside will also try to come into the squad, and it will definitely increase competition among the players. However, only goalkeeper Mohammad Noyon will miss the World Cup due to his age.

DS: Do you have any idea about the six-month training camp disclosed by the BHF president?
MRS: I think the BHF president wanted to make you understand that the boys will be kept involved for six months by arranging the conditioning camp as well as playing some friendly matches and tournaments in Europe. Hosting bilateral series or home-away series [is a possibility], because other teams will also desire to play in Bangladesh in the context of the World Cup to be held in India. The boys will also be engaged in domestic competitions, but there is no alternative to practice matches against foreign teams.

DS: The BHF president also said he would consider a foreign coach if needed. What do you think?
MRS: I was appointed up to the Junior Asia Cup, and I am no longer the official coach of the Bangladesh U-21 team. Now, the federation will decide whether they will appoint a local or foreign coach. However, I think the federation should send some active local coaches to European countries for coaching courses. If we depend on foreign coaches, our local coaches will not develop, and the country's hockey will also not progress. I think a foreign coach can come as an advisory coach.

DS: Did you see any impact after securing the Junior World Cup seat?
MRS: I don't see any impact anywhere except in the media. Nowadays, sport has a huge market, and world sports survive on branding. I think we should get out of the negative aspects of the country's hockey. It is time to brand this group of boys for the country's hockey. Corporate houses are investing in cricket and football, but they can invest less in hockey to get more attention. When the boys increase the image of the country, it will also increase the image of the corporate houses. I think we can't realise what the boys achieved. There is a huge difference between SAFF and the World Cup, and I think the federation should capitalise on this achievement.

DS: Do you think Bangladesh hockey can start a new journey of change through the World Cup qualifying achievement?
MRS: I personally hope that this achievement will start bringing change to the country's hockey. I think senior teams will also have the opportunity to qualify for the Hockey World Cup because the Asian quota is expected to increase in the next edition. This group of players will represent the national team in the future. If we can hold them together along with some senior players and work together, then we can expect a change in the coming days. We will definitely not return home from the next Junior World Cup empty-handed because there are two lower teams behind us from Asia, and there are also other teams from other parts of the world. So, if we can produce something good in this period, the change will come, I believe.