Bangladesh national team coach Lodewijk de Kruif has complained to FIFA over his unpaid wages, accusing the Bangladesh Football Federation of breaking their promises.
Kruif also labelled the BFF as liars and said unless he is paid his dues, he will not return to take the charge for the two friendlies against Sri Lanka. Bangladesh have already started their preparation for the two FIFA international friendlies against Sri Lanka, scheduled on October 24 and 27 respectively in Jessore and Rajshahi, under the guidance of the local coach Saiful Bari Titu.
Kruif, who went to the Netherlands on vacation after the Asian Games, was supposed to return this week to take the helm.
‘BFF could not keep their promises,’ Kruif told New Age through social networking service Facebook. ‘I don’t want to work with liars. Let’s see what happens.
‘I spoke with FIFA yesterday [Tuesday] and they will look into the issue very soon.’
Kruif said BFF owed him four months of salary, which left him financially handicapped. He also accused the BFF of denying him fringe benefits that was mentioned in his contract.
‘I came here [Bangladesh] with several good ideas to help them, but they didn’t provide me any apartment and car, which were all in my contract,’ he said.
‘I don’t want to fight over it, but now my family is suffering. I cannot even pay for my father’s chemo.
‘I just spoke to Sohag [BFF general secretary Abu Nayeem Sohag] over the phone. He told me that the president was not in the country and he will call me only after talking with the president [Kazi Salahuddin],’ Kruif said.
Salahuddin was in Singapore to watch Tuesday’s Brazil-Japan FIFA international friendly and is expected to arrive today.
When contacted, Sohag said he was unsure when the coach will be paid his dues until Salahuddin returns.
‘It’s unfortunate that the coach has taken such a stand,’ said Sohag. ‘The Sri Lanka series is knocking at the door and the national team is now training for it. We are really missing his service,’ he added.
-With New Age input
