BHF to release Oliver Kurtz

The Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) is all set to release German hockey coach Oliver Kurtz from his duty four-and-a-half months before the expiration of his 10-month contract citing breach of terms and conditions of the agreement.

The decision was taken at the BHF working committee meeting yesterday as Kurtz failed to comply with the agreement since the completion of the Hockey World League Round-2 held in Dhaka in November.

“The working committee has decided to release him from his duty today [Monday]. As the federation has some disagreements with Kurtz, who is walking his own way and violating the terms and conditions of the contract,” said BHF general secretary Abdus Sadeque after the meeting.

“The coach is not performing according to the contract. He is supposed to facilitate the national team’s 22-day training in a month but he did not do it after the completion of Hockey World League Round-2 in November. Secondly, the coach should give valuable suggestions to the selection and coaching committees to select the national team but he wants to pick the squad himself.”

Sadeque cited a couple of examples of breaching the terms and conditions of contract, adding that Kurtz threatened to resign if the federation doesn't follow his programme, which includes having a 14-day training camp in Germany.

“We will soon tell him our decision through email as he has not been in Bangladesh,” said Saqeque. “We will also clear off all his dues.”

The legendary hockey player also informed that the national team will take part in the Asia Cup, which is scheduled to be held in Dhaka in November, under the supervision of a local coach – either Mahbub Harun or Mamun-Ur-Rashid.

“The meeting also decided that Mamun will guide the national squad during the tour of India in August as Mamun has been working with the tour of India,” said Sadeque adding that there have been instances when Bangladesh performed under the guidance of the local coach in the past.

Kurtz, who once worked as the assistant coach of the Bangladesh hockey team in 2010, was initially appointed for three months last September to guide Bangladesh in Hockey World League Round-2 and then his contract was extended till October this year despite failing to achieve the target of reaching the semifinals where Bangladesh lost to Oman to finish fifth among eight teams.