NEWS TIME DHAKA

Dhaka Bangladesh

An Indepth News Agency      Last Update: Wednesday, May 14, 2008

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Sports Football Cruciani interested Sports Reporter Former national football coach Diego Cruciani would consider returning to Bangladesh if the newly elected executive committee of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) wants him back. While chatting on the internet with this correspondent, the Argentine coach who guided Bangladesh to the 2005 SAFF Championship final but ended up in the losing side, mentioned on Monday that he keeps a tab on the situation in Bangladesh and is very happy to see footballers and experienced organisers taking over BFF. "All the good guys are there now and I wish all of them good luck. And my greetings to all the friends over there, to players, officials and journalists," Cruciani added. The Argentine, whose style and football philosophy impressed even the strictest critics after Bangladesh produced a lively brand of football immediately after his arrival, said he did not mind about the fracas that marred his departure from Bangladesh. Cruciani's contract was not renewed by the BFF while his second stint at Bangladesh, with Abahani during the inaugural B. League, also ended prematurely due to crowd pressure. "I was ashamed because two of the three players I brought for Abahani from Argentina did not deliver the goods. Also, the fans were pressing me hard," Cruciani had said earlier. "Now that a workable committee is in the seat, I feel they will plan long-term for football," said Cruciani, who is now at home to nurse his ailing father. The 43-year-old worked till January as assistant coach of his mentor and 1978 World Cup winning coach Cesar Luis Menotti at Mexican Premier Division side Tecos -- the team of University of Guadalajara -- but had to leave early to attend his father. "I miss Bangladesh very much and feel it is second home to me. I have seen that they are interested to have foreign coaches and trainers for junior and national teams and I would like to be back." Cruciani, who will send his father to a special cares unit and would be free for job very soon, said changing coaches frequently will never give a team the time to settle. He also said he was sad to see a lower-ranked team like Afghanistan qualify for the AFC Challenge Cup finals at the expenses of Bangladesh. "This is one of the reasons Bangladesh have lagged behind when Afghanistan, a war-torn nation who have just returned from the wilderness, have improved a lot. They have not changed their German coach (Klaus Staerk) and this could be a great lesson for Bangladesh officials. "When you let the coach to stay long time, the results appear," said Cruciani in a message to Bangladesh football.