Booters back Maruful

Bangladesh captain Mamunul Islam believed that Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) made a correct decision by sacking Italian coach Fabio Lopez and also backed the appointment of Maruful Haque.

"The BFF has taken the right decision timely, as we have an important tournament, the SAFF Championship, ahead," said Mamunul after the booters returned yesterday from a disappointing campaign in the Yunnan International football tournament in China

"A good coach never does such extreme experiments ahead of an important tournament. He [Lopez] changed the positions of players regularly and we had to suffer for it during the tournament in China."

"It was not possible to put up better performances in such anxious circumstances," said Mamunul, who had been in Fabio's experimental group during the Italian's two-and-a-half month tenure.

Before their departure for China, Mamunul said that they had no option but to prove themselves either in the Yunnan International football tournament or the SAFF Championship following their dismal performances in the World Cup and Asian Cup Qualifiers.

Under Lopez, the booters suffered two successive defeats which eventually resulted in his termination. Bangladesh, however, ended that campaign with a win in the last group match.

Mamunul said that sans Fabio they won the match against Hebei since the players played in their previous position.

The Sheikh Jamal DC captain believes they will now be able to play more comfortably under the guidance of Maruful, who has coached them in different clubs in the domestic league.  

"We [players and coach] know each other very well and I think Maruful can bring out the best from the players, who will also give their hundred percent in the SAFF Championship," said Mamunul.

Left-back Wali Faisal echoed Mamunul's sentiments.

"We could not produce good results in the tournament in China because of the constant positional changes of the players. I think we could have produced something good had the coach [Fabio] not experimented with the players," said Faisal.

Wali said that the confidence of the players was shattered due to the positional changes but they dared not approach the coach.

"Maruful is a good motivator and I believe he can help the players regain their confidence ahead of the SAFF Championship," said the Sheikh Russel KC defender.

Without going into details, defender Nasirul Islam said that there have been some positive and some negative changes in the team during Lopez's stay.

The preparation for the SAFF Championship will get underway from Sunday at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan.