Promising Bangladesh Under-19 footballer Hemanta Vincent Biswas has been invited by Dutch top-flight club FC Twente for a trial, national team’s Dutch coach Lodewijk De Kruif said on Thursday.
Hemanta, who led the Bangladesh Under-19 national team in the AFC Under-19 Championship in Iraq last month, got the chance along with Nepalese striker Bimal Gharti Magar, said Kruif
Kruif arranged the opportunity for Hemanta after watching him play in the recent few tournaments.
Hemanta impressed Kruif and Rene Koster, head coach of the Under-19 national team, with the his performance in Iraq while they picked 15-year-old Nepalese striker Bimal seeing him in the SAFF Under-16 Championship held this year.
‘We were requested by the Bangladesh Football Federation officials to try something like this for young Bangladeshi players, who badly need some exposures,’ Kruif said at a press conference at the BFF House. ‘We saw some raw talents here and thought with the right opportunity may be they can flourish in Europe.’
Former BKSP student Hemanta, who was called to the U-19 side from second-tier team Victoria, joined Mohammedan Sporting Club this season, but Kruif said it should not stands in his way to try his luck at the Dutch club as he has not been awarded any contract.
Kruif was full of praise for FC Twente, who are also regular in European club competitions.
‘They [FC Twente] were the champions of the Netherlands two or three years ago (2009-10). They are a very big club with a fantastic organisation, a very good youth department,’ said Kruif.
`With FC Twente I have an agreement that if I find good talent in this area I will let them know. I did it in Nigeria, I am doing it now.
‘With my contacts over there, I could arrange a trial period for one month and he will go as soon as possible. His companion will be a guy from Nepal, Bimal Gharti Magar [captain of U-16],’ he said.
`It’s a very big opportunity for young player like Hemanta, he can be an example for other players.’
Meanwhile, Hemanta appeared excited after getting the call from a European
club being the first Bangladesh footballer.
`It’s a great opportunity for me because I’m going to a European country for the first time for trial,’ he said.
‘I will try to perform my best to get a chance there and make the country proud,’ said Hemanta, whose all expenses during his stay in the Netherlands will be borne by FC Twente.
-With New Age input
