De Kruif's challenge

Lodewijk de Kruif relays his ideas to his charges at the BNS yesterday.Photo: STAR

Lodewijk de Kruif has quite a task at hand.
With only six days left for the start of the AFC Challenge Cup, some of Bangladesh's key players are struggling with injuries with two influential wingers, Zahid Hossain and Shakil Ahmed, missing the practice sessions. Veteran striker Zahid Hasan Emily is also struggling with a rib injury. And there is not enough time for recovery as the team leaves the country tomorrow after only three sessions of practice under the new coach.
If those three influential players are not available for the tour, Bangladesh's AFC mission may fall apart. However, De Kruif is not banking on ifs and buts and planning alternatives, according to sources. The Dutch coach is expected to field two youngsters --Alamgir Kabir and Sohel Rana, both of whom have been in excellent form -- on the wings. Abdul Baten Komol and Tauhidul Alam will also be in the reckoning for first-team spots at those positions. The lone striker's choice is thought to be Abahani's in-form striker Shakhawat Hossain Rony, who scored six League goals and has impressed the coach in the training sessions.
Bangladesh will be fielding a relatively inexperienced frontline against the likes of Palestine, Nepal and Mariana Island. However, the challenge will not only come from those quarters; the challenge will also be for the whole team to adapt to the coach's Dutch style of play and tactics.
The coach tried to get his charges acquainted with the pressing game -- where a host of players including defenders go pressing into the opposition half and retreat in defence -- during yesterday's practice session. He formed two groups of seven players who would go for the ball all the time in seven-minute periods which test the players' skill, strength and stamina.
De Kruif's style of coaching has already won the admiration of his assistant local coach and some of the players. It remains to be seen if it conjures up any unexpected results in the short time they have at hand.