Manik for ban on foreign booters
National coach Shafiqul Islam Manik has urged the need to ban foreign footballers in domestic football in a bid to negotiate the crisis of quality local players.
"It's time we should consider stop foreign players, especially strikers because we don't have many. Most of the teams field foreign strikers, which means our forwards are getting lesser exposure," Manik told at a post-Merdeka Cup press briefing at the BFF Bhaban yesterday.
BFF vice-president Shawkat Ali Khan Jahangir, who was part of the team's management in Kuala Lumpur, was also present.
"Even if it's not possible at this time, the federation should try to restrict the number to one foreign striker per team. And also, clubs should try to bring quality players from abroad, not the ordinary ones we have seen in the recent past," suggested former national footballer Manik.
"I think and the BFF and the clubs should sit to talk on this and I am also going to give this suggestion to the BFF officially."
Manik, who was criticised for being defensive in the Merdeka Cup even after his side conceding goal, defended his style of play.
"I have always preferred a 5-3-2 system and it's not defensive. Yes, our main target was not to concede goals because we have lacked in scoring," said Manik whose side lost 1-0 to Mozambique U-20s and Myanmar and held Vietnam Olympic team to a 2-2 draw in their group at the Merdeka.
"Our ploy was never negative on the pitch. Now we have to look to the tournament in Myanmar where opponents are going to be tougher. Now it's not the time to expect results from the team because we are trying to build a team for future.
"And I am happy the way the players behaved in Malaysia during the Merdeka Cup. We want an ideal team that will have discipline, commitment and performance and I believe we have taken one step to get a Team Bangladesh. We hope we would be able to play international matches regularly from now on because it is essential to improve the national team's quality.
"Some press reports claimed that I used injured players -- Hassan Al Mamun, Sujan and Aminul -- against Myanmar but that's not true. In fact, Sujan was the best player of that match," said Manik dismissing allegations against him.
Bangladesh's next foreign tour will in Myanmar where they play the hosts and Indonesia in their group of the 3rd Grand Royal Challenge Cup from November 11-21.
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