Dutch duo set new conditions

Dutch coaches Lodewijk de Kruif and Rene Koster have left the Bangladesh Football Federation in a quandary by attaching some preconditions to their interim stint in charge of the national team during the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers, which will be held in Nepal from March 2 to 6.
The two were supposed to take charge of the national team on February 20 and conduct training before flying for Nepal on February 25 to compete against hosts Nepal, Palestine and Northern Mariana Island but some pre-conditions they attached has made BFF have a second thought about them.
“When we spoke with their agent the day before yesterday, everything seemed settled. But yesterday (Saturday) they attached some new conditions where the coaches will have the right to cancel the agreement while the federation will have no such right. Another major concern is that they may send a third coach in case neither of them can come. Furthermore, they have demanded that they will have to be paid by February 12,” said BFF president Kazi Salahuddin yesterday.
The BFF wanted De Kruif and Koster to arrive here on February 15 to watch three to four matches of the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League before picking the preliminary squad but both the coaches wanted to come to Bangladesh on February 22.
“They want a month’s salary including a portion of bonus, in case of success, which will have to be paid by February 12 for their 12-day stay and we will also have to pay double taxes, both in Bangladesh and Netherlands.
“We have no problem about meeting their financial demands, but their unilateral right to cancel the agreement and the condition of sending a third coach instead of them is quite unacceptable,” said the BFF boss, Salahuddin even hinted that he would not go after the duo for long term if they do not take charge in the interim period.
However, BFF’s vice president and National Teams Committee chairman Kazi Nabil is still hopeful that the matter could be settled.
“We have informed them about our observation and I can say that the final decision will be taken tomorrow (Monday),” said Nabil adding that they are already thinking of alternatives if the Dutch coaches make themselves unavailable for the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers.