Back from the trial at Dutch top-flight club FC Twente Enschede, young midfielder Hemanta Vincent Biswas shared his experiences with the media at the BFF House on Saturday.
Hemanta participated in a few training sessions and practice matches after receiving an invitation from the Dutch club. FC Twente recently expressed their desire to pick some young talents for their youth teams and the Dutch head coach of Bangladesh, Lodewijk de Kruif, and his assistant Rene Koster created the opportunity for Hemanta and young Nepal striker Bimal Gharti Magar.
After returning to Dhaka on Friday, Koster had said that FC Twente looked after the two players properly and the prodigious duo played well in the trial matches.
However, Koster and Hemanta failed to give any clear indication if FC Twente are really interested in selecting the two players.
‘Hemanta and Bimal had a bit of a problem training as it was a new experience. They performed a little bit better every day,’ said Koster.
‘They played two games with the Under-19 and U-17 teams. They gave a good account of themselves. ‘They showed they can handle the level very well. I could compare them with the players there. The coach said they [coaching staff] were very happy and if they [Hemanta and Bimal] had Dutch passports, the two players would have been taken directly to the academy,’ Koster added.
Koster cleared that Hemanta and Bimal will not be picked for the senior team but they retained a chance of being selected for the academy.
‘If they take them, they will have to give them contracts as they are below 18,’ said Koster.
‘What they can do is give them training for 90 days in the academy and then send them back. They can offer them a contract once they are 18. I hope FC Twente invite them again,’ he said.
The young footballer under the spotlight, Hemanta, who plays for local side Mohammedan Sporting Club, said that it was a good experience for him which will no doubt help him to play better in the coming days.
‘I spent two weeks there and it was a dream for me. The conditions were totally different from here. I learned how to behave, how to keep my personality as a player. They told me that they will evaluate our performances a few weeks later,’ said Hemanta.
Koster and Hemanta both admitted that the difference between the South Asian footballers and the European players is that the Europeans are a bit better tactically besides the obvious difference in fitness.
‘Physically I’m stronger but tactically they told me that I had some weakness,’ said Hemanta, who turned 17 on Friday.
-With New Age input
