Salim Reza, Dhaka: British-born Australian Andrew Ord has been appointed the head coach of the Bangladesh National Football team for the next one year.
After signing the deal, the 38-year-old football coach was officially introduced with the pressmen at the BFF House on Today in the presence of Bangladesh l Football Federation President Kazi Salahuddin.
The chairman of the National Teams Committee and Bangladesh l Football Federation Vice-president Kazi Nabil Ahmed, Vice-president Tabith Awal, General Secretary Abu Naeem Shohag and other executive committee members were also present on the occasion.
At the function, the BFF ceremonially handed over jerseys of national football team to the coach.
In his first reaction, the Australian coach vowed to pull his team out of current frustrating situation.
Expressing his optimism, Andrew Ord said, “I believe in myself. Bangladesh is a big country. There has to be 23 good players here. I don’t believe they should be 193 in the world. We are going to find them….we have to work hard to find them and create some young players with some training and with some supports from the federation. I’m sure we will climb to ranking because there is no way we should be 193 in the world,” said Ord.
Regarding his own style of play, he said, “The way to play in Bangladesh is not like the way in England or the USA or Brazil. You got to create your own identity, own style. It seems to the players that they want to play like that. Working hard in the training ground is the only way. There is no other secret.”
“I am not a wizard. I don’t have magic wind. I can’t make things happen out of nothing. We need to find the good players, we need to work with them, give them some confidence and belief. Get them enjoying the game again. We need to make the national team higher level. Everybody has to raise the level. I want to improve Bangladesh as well. I’m committed for good job, not holiday. I didn’t come here to relax,” said the Aussie coach.
The salary of the coach has been fixed at US$ 12,000 per month that included food, accommodation and local transport.
The first major assignment of the coach will be the Bangabandhu Gold Cup Football scheduled for next December and the next SAFF Championship in April-May next year.
The Australian coach will also look after the Bangladesh Under-23 Football team which will participate in the qualifying round of AFC U-23 Championship in Palestine next July.
He will act as an advisory coach of the different age group teams apart from national football team and national Olympic team.
Andrew Ord, coach of Perth Glory FC in Australia, also has coaching experiences in Asian countries, including Thailand and Myanmar.