'My heart is crying'

Bangladesh national team's departing coach Lodewijk de Kruif left here for the Netherlands yesterday morning with 'a broken heart' and with a hope of coming back to Bangladesh in future.

“I'm very sad about it (departing), my heart is crying because I want to continue.  That is the feeling I have with my boys and my staff but in the middle of the process, we came to a point where we thought it was best to separate for this moment,” an emotional de Kruif said prior to his departure.

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) decided to part ways nearly one-and-a-half years into the relation in an amicable way.

“For me, it is not a happy ending. Normally I want to work; normally I should be in camp in Jessore now with my boys, who call me every time and tell me they miss me. What BFF meant is that we tried to settle in an amicable way and that is what we agreed upon,” said the 44-year-old coach.

De Kruif informed that he had talked with the BFF president Kazi Salahuddin and vice president Tabith Awal about a possible return in the latter part of 2015 and that he would be in regular contact with the BFF. The Dutchman also claimed that he has drawn interest from clubs in Africa and Latin America.

“Certain people came to me and said they are interested, especially from Africa and also from Latin America. Let's see what comes out. But I have to be honest with my hands on my heart that my first intention is Bangladesh, it always was. Unfortunately we can't continue at the moment. That is the situation we have to face,” said de Kruif.

De Kruif also wished the best of times for the Bangladesh players in the upcoming matches against Sri Lanka.  

“I miss the team very much. Those boys are my kids. That is how I treat them, I think the best of them, I want to teach them the best, I feel from their side the same feeling because they call me everyday several times. They are in my heart and I hope they perform very well in the games against Sri Lanka. I wish them all the best,” ended de Kruif.