'Schweichler Made Me a Better Goalkeeper'

today's paper >> sports >> published: 01:49 september 2, 2015 ‘Schweichler made me a better goalkeeper’ Tribune Report

The Sheikh Jamal DC custodian put up a brave display against Malaysia in the justconcluded Fifa international friendly in Kuala Lumpur, making a number of brilliant saves to hold the hosts to a goalless draw

Bangladesh are just a day away from facing their biggest opponents – Asian champions Australia in a very long time and goalkeeper Shahidul Alam Sohel believes all the players should try to perform to the best of their abilities to achieve something from their 2018 Fifa World Cup second round qualifier, slated for tomorrow at NIB Stadium in Perth.

And ahead of the allimportant Australia clash, Sohel admitted that the stalemate against the Malaysians will inspire them when they take the field tomorrow.

“We played well against Malaysia and I believe that it will give us more confidence ahead of the game against Australia. Everybody praised my performance and I want to continue my form in the next game as well,” said Sohel.

“Having said that, the Australia attacking line is stronger than the one we faced against Malaysia. So to overcome this challenge, the defenders and all the players should perform, not only the keeper,” he added.

Sohel thanked Bangladesh’s German goalkeeping coach Christian Schweichler for the improvement in his form. “I trained under his supervision ever since I recovered from injury. He taught me new things. I am now more confident than before. Whatever the result will be, I will try to give my very best.”

Ahead of tomorrow’s match, the Bengal Tigers enjoyed a twohour training session at Dorrien Gardens, Lawley Street yesterday. It was learnt that the coaching staff are now mainly working on the players’ psychological aspects.

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12:00 AM, September 02, 2015 / LAST MODIFIED: 12:00 AM, September 02, 2015 Sohel ready for Aus challenge

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After a light warm-up session yesterday morning, the Bangladesh players and officials stopped by at the Kings Park in Perth. The booters will take on the Socceroos in a World Cup-Asian Cup qualifier at the Nib Stadium in the Western Australian city tomorrow. PHOTO: BFF

Sports Reporter

As Bangladesh brace for the Australian onslaught in their World Cup and Asian Cup joint qualifier on September 3 with an outright defensive display in mind, the man who might have to play the most important role is goalkeeper Shahidul Alam Sohel.

The Sheikh Jamal goalkeeper, who had has been part of the national team for the last four years but lost his place to other keepers quite a few times, has seemingly reinstalled the confidence of the team management and the coaching staff with a brilliant performance in the recent friendly against Malaysia following some valiant displays for his club in the AFC Cup Play-off Qualifiers.

Sohel made a number of saves from close range to hold the Malaysians to a goalless draw in last Saturday's friendly, which seems to have charged him up for the Australia challenge. The lad from Chittagong said he feels no pressure and is ready to put up his natural display against the Socceroos.

“I don't have any additional pressure because I want to play my own game,” said Sohel over the phone from Perth, Australia yesterday. “Everyone is telling me that I have played well against Malaysia and I want to carry that performance into the match against Australia.”

“I don't know what will happen against Australia and I also don't want to keep that in mind. Whatever happens, I will be trying to put my best effort,” said Sohel.

The goalkeeper was out of action for nearly one-and-a-half month following a knee injury during the latter part of the Bangladesh Premier League. He went into rehabilitation phased where he trained under goalkeeping coach Christian Schweichler before returning to action at the fag end of the league.

Replacing Mazharul Islam Himel as Sheikh Jamal's number one, Sohel had some fine performances as the Dhanmondi giants earned a play-off spot in the AFC Cup. With their backs to the wall, Sohel almost single-handily kept FC Alga Bishkek at bay at their own backyard to earn his side the play-off spot. Those performances helped him earn back his place in the national team after missing the first two qualifiers against Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan at home in June.

“I have improved a lot under Christian (Schweichler), admitted the tall goalkeeper. “I have learnt a lot of things from him and I think that's why my performance graph is going upward.”

However, Sohel knows that the Socceroos, at their own turf, will be a completely different challenge altogether. So he conceded that Bangladesh will have to put on a collective effort, beginning from himself and the defenders right up to those in the front line to keep the four-time World Cuppers at bay.

“To overcome the challenge of the Australian attack, not only goalkeeper but also the defenders and the rest of the team, will have to play as a unit,” said Sohel. Print Version Archives Special Supplements TRENDS Xtra Youth Jobs Advertise Thursday, September 17, 2015

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You are here: Home » Sports Football Search Search Sohel ready for Socceroos

September 2, 2015 12:20 am · 0 Comments Views: 23

Staff Correspondent Bangladesh’s inform goalkeeper Shahidul Alam Sohel is keen to continue his superb form under the bar when they take on reigning Asian Cup champions Australia in their third World Cup qualifying match in Perth on Thursday. The Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club keeper missed his country’s first two World Cup qualifying games against

Bangladesh national team goalkeeper Shahidul Alam Sohel (R) listens to team’s German Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan due goalkeeping coach Christian Schweichler during a training session at the Perth Soccer Club, to meniscus injury on his left Dorrein on Monday. — Courtesy BFF foot. But after returning from injury, Sohel performed brilliantly for his club in their two AFC Cup playoff qualifying matches against Kyrgyzstan giants FC Alga and Macau champions Casa Benfica on August 13 and 15 respectively. In both the matches, the tall keeper made some fine saves to propel Jamal into the AFC Cup playoffs round. Sohel, then continued his fine form to hold hosts Malaysia with a goalless draw in their FIFA international friendly match in Malaysia on Tuesday. ‘We played really well against Malaysia,’ the shotstopper told New Age over phone from Perth on Tuesday. ONLINE POLL ‘I believe that will boost our confidence ahead of the game against Australia.’ ‘Everybody admired my performance and I want to continue that form against Australia as well.’ Sohel, however, admitted that Australia will be a much tougher opponent than Malaysia. ‘Australian attacking lineup is much stronger than Malaysia,’ said the keeper. Do you think it will be justified for the ‘So, not only the keeper but also the whole team including the defenders will have to perform to their optimum to overcome government to reduce the proposed rate of transit this hurdle.’ and transhipment fees under pressure from Sohel also said the Dutch coach Lodewijk de Kruif is giving importance to their defence. Also they are working on how to India? utilise the chances that they will obtain from counterattack. ‘Besides defending well the coach is also planning to attack the Socceroos from counterattack’, said Sohel. Yes No Like 72 No comment

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12:00 AM, August 30, 2015 / LAST MODIFIED: 12:00 AM, August 30, 2015 Booters stave off Malaysia

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Bangladesh goalkeeper Shahidul Alam Sohel (L) hares out of the box to thwart a Malaysia attempt during the goalless draw in the friendly at the Shah Alam Stadium in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. PHOTO: BFF

Sports Reporter

The Shah Alam Stadium in Kuala Lumpur must be one of the luckiest venues for the Bangladesh national football team. The men in red and green, who had lost twice against Malaysia's under-22 team in the Bangabandhu Gold Cup at home earlier this year, have now held the senior Malaysia side to consecutive draws in friendlies at this venue in four years.

The first stalemate came in 2011 when Zahid Hossain Emily's 82nd minute penalty had cancelled out an early goal by the Malaysians, before last night's bizarre goalless draw where, despite chasing their own shadows most of the time, the men in red and green managed to come out with a favourable result.

Despite sitting only two places above Bangladesh in the latest FIFA rankings, Malaysia are believed to be a much stronger side and that was evident from their youth team's performance in the Bangabandhu Gold Cup. The pattern of play in yesterday's match, with the hosts enjoying two-thirds of possession and having more than a dozen shots on target against a single one from the visitors, spoke volumes about the hosts' superiority.

But buoyed by the raucous support of a few hundred expatriate Bangladeshis at the venue, who easily outnumbered those cheering for the hosts, Bangladesh showed how determined they were not to concede a defeat, even if it meant keeping their shop shut the whole time.

Lodewijk de Kruif's charges, playing in 4-5-1 formation with a very low line of defence, showed a bit of attacking intent in the first half and made a couple of forays into opposition half. Jamal Bhuiyan played a wonderful through-ball which was gathered by the Malaysia keeper just in time, ahead of winger Jewel Rana in the 25th minute. Hemanta Vincent Biswas then made a couple of galloping runs down the right wing, only to find lack of support in the attacking third. At the other end, Bangladesh conceded two free-kicks from just outside the box, with goalkeeper Shahidul Alam Sohel making a fine save, while the other one was blasted over the bar.

The second half was one-way traffic throughout, but Bangladesh's defence stood firm while Sohel proved to be a wall too impregnable for the hosts, who were less than average with their finishing. Like his counterpart, de Kruif made a number of substitutions in the second half, who completed the job quite efficiently in the end.

The draw will definitely provide some encouragement to the Bangladesh team as they fly for Perth today to face the Socceroos in a World Cup qualifier on September 3, but the Aussies will undoubtedly be a challenge of a different level altogether. ri Lanka.

today's paper >> sports >> published: 01:12 august 23, 2015 Triumphant Bangladesh Under 16s to be looked after Shishir Hoque

Goalkeeping coach's tenure extended among other issues

The executive committee of the Bangladesh Football Federation has asked the development committee to ensure the nurturing process of the national Under16 team who recently won the third edition of the Saff U16 Championship at home.

The announcement came within a week since the young Tigers emerged as the unbeaten champion of the sixnation regional agelevel competition. BFF president Kazi Salahuddin had earlier promised the same thing in that the U16 boys will be nurtured in the next four years by football's regulatory body of the country.

As per the decision of the executive committee, the entire U16 squad will reside at the BFF academy in Sylhet for the next four years.

Following the hourlong meeting yesterday, the committee also hinted that this season's Independence Cup and Super Cup might not take place if the proposed Sheikh Kamal International Gold Cup is held in Chittagong this October. Kolkata giants East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, along with the top four clubs of Bangladesh, will partake in the tournament that will be hosted by topflight side Chittagong Abahani.

The committee also decided to hold the secondtier Championship League from October 25 this year with the participation of 10 teams, including one from BFF Academy. The players' transfer window will open on October 1 this year and conclude nine days later.

Among other agendas, a Fifa delegate will tour Dhaka soon to inspect the installation process at the Kamalapur stadium. The BFF hopes to complete the installation process by September 28 this year so that they can get three more turfs from world football's governing body in the future.

The committee also decided to extend the tenure of Bangladesh's German goalkeeping coach Christian Schweichler by three more months. Dutch head coach Lodewijk de Kruif's situation is, however, the same as before.

The BFF will also send a “letter of intent” to UKbased event management company Soccer International, informing them to provide £1m if they are to buy the rights of the professional football league and become a partner of the BFF.

Meanwhile, the committee introduced the national team's new jersey after the meeting. The colour of the official home jersey is red while the away one is green. today's paper >> sports >> published: 02:55 june 19, 2015 BFF keeps faith with De Kruif, Schweichler Raihan Mahmood

Bangladesh Football Federation, in its bid to continue the improvement of the national side, yesterday retained the services of Dutch trainer Lodewijk de Kruif and German goalkeeping coach Christian Schweichler till next January.

The national teams committee and the two foreign coaches sat in a meeting at BFF House and the concerned parties agreed on the terms. In accordance with the agreement, De Kruif will continue with his assignmentbased contract while Schweichler will continue to train the national goalkeepers and others till the end of the next Bangabandhu Gold Cup, scheduled to be held in Dhaka next January.

De Kruif will now fly back to the Netherlands and return on August 1 to prepare the national side for the 2018 Fifa World Cup second round qualifier against Australia on September 3 at NIB Stadium, Perth.

Schweichler however, will stay at the capital and work with the national custodians. BFF has extended the boundary of his responsibilities as he will now train the talented goalkeepers outside the national side as well as the intern goalkeepers of the BFF’s Sylhetbased Academy.

De Kruif appeared happy with the development. “The scenario says BFF has the faith on me to develop the game and I am also motivated to do the same. We must look forward and our aim is to win the SAFF Championship, scheduled to be held next December,” said De Kruif. Home  Sports  Football

12:00 AM, June 19, 2015 / LAST MODIFIED: 03:57 AM, June 19, 2015 De Kruif to continue

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The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has offered Dutch coach Lodewijk de Kruif a new contract to work with the national football team till the last group match of the Joint Qualifiers of the World Cup and Asian Cup against Jordan on March 24, 2016.

The offer was made yesterday after a meeting amongst BFF president Kazi Salahuddin, vice president Tabith M Awal, de Kruif and German goalkeeping coach Christian Schweichler, who will be staying with the Dutch coach.

Despite being terminated last October, de Kruif was given a contract on a temporary basis ahead of Bangabandhu Gold Cup, AFC U-23 Championship Qualifiers and the first two matches of the World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers, which ended on June 16 and he has now been offered a new contract with previous terms and conditions.

"We discussed Bangladesh's good and bad points of the World Cup Qualifiers and then talked about the new contract. So we are happy to inform you that Dutch coach Lodewijk de Kruif and German goalkeeping coach Christian Schweichler are staying back and will work with us throughout the programme, which includes World Cup and Asian Cup Qualifiers, AFC U-19 Championship Qualifiers, SAFF Championship and next year's Bangabandhu Gold Cup," said BFF president Kazi Salahauddin, adding that the deal would be struck within a couple of days. today's paper >> sports >> published: 00:49 may 19, 2015 Eat, sleep, practise but no gossiping, facebooking: gk coach Schweichler Shishir Hoque

Jahid Hasan Ameli (L), Enamul Haque (C) and Hemanta Vincent Biswas share a light moment at BFF House yesterday Photo MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK The residential camp of the Bangladesh football team got underway yesterday as 27 booters among the 32member preliminary squad reported for training at BFF House yesterday.

Sheikh Russel KC winger Zahid Hossain (illness) and Nasir Uddin Chowdhury and Yeasin Khan (head injuries) were unable to report while Jamal Bhuiyan will join the camp this Monday following his vacation in Denmark. Bangladeshborn German expatriate Reasat Khaton is expected to join the camp on May 30.

In the absence of Dutch head coach Lodewijk de Kruif, who is currently vacationing in the Netherlands, and his deputy Saiful Bari Titu, German goalkeeping coach Christian Schweichler and assistant coach Masud Parvez Kaiser are guiding the national side. Bangladesh Football Federation general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag yesterday informed that De Kruif will return to Dhaka tomorrow to take charge while Titu is scheduled to return from Malaysia this Saturday.

During the camp, Schweichler’s instructions were simple: “Eat, sleep and practise but no gossiping and facebooking during this time. It’s a great opportunity for the players to prove their worth in the World Cup qualifiers.” Captain Mamunul Islam is suffering from an injury and was unable to play the last three matches for Sheikh Jamal DC in the Manyavar Bangladesh Premier League. The talismanic midfielder, however, is hopeful of a return sooner rather than later.

“I am feeling better but still on the road to recovery. I do not want to take any risks but wish to play the warmup matches if I get fully fit. Hopefully, I can start pressure training within two or three days,” said Mamunul yesterday.

Bangladesh will kick off their 2018 Fifa World Cup second round qualifiers against Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on June 11 and 16 respectively. Both the qualifiers will be held at Bangabandhu National Stadium.

Ahead of the World Cup qualifiers that will also double up as the qualifying stage for the 2019 Asian Cup, Bangladesh will also face Singapore and Saff champions Afghanistan on May 30 and June 2 respectively in two Fifa international friendlies at Bangabandhu National Stadium.

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Weekend About Us TMAG Contact Us today's paper >> sports >> published: 00:09 april 3, 2015 ‘Temporary’ De Kruif flies back today Shishir Hoque

We want to invite Riasat again who is now playing in Philippines. There are two young guys in Cardiff, one in Newcastle and a guy in Japan

Bangladesh football team coach Lodewijk de Kruif (R) speaks in a press conference at BFF House yesterday in the presence of BFF general secretary Abu Naeem Shohag (C) and goalkeeping coach Christian Schweichler Photo BFF Bangladesh national football team head coach Lodewijk de Kruif is scheduled to leave the capital and return to his home Netherlands today morning along with German goalkeeping coach Christian Schweichler. The coaching duo had arrived in Dhaka on March 12 to take charge of the national U23 side for the AFC U23 Championship Qualifiers which concluded on March 31.

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) confirmed that the Dutch will only work with the national team on assignment basis and he is expected to return in June before Bangladesh’s matches in the Fifa World Cup qualifiers starting on June 11.

When a head coach of a team works in phases it is natural for the team not to fare well but the reason behind taking such a step is strictly financial, admitted BFF general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag.

Shohag said, “Financial guarantee comes above all. We had an agreement with them only for AFC U23 Championship qualifiers and they will leave tomorrow (today) according to the agreement. Now we will work together on assignment basis. Kruif will be working with us and we will let him know about future assignments,”

“We have the World Cup qualifiers, Saff Championship ahead and considering all these we will take the final decision after talking to the coaches. We will move ahead with a comprehensive plan and schedule and will do the further bargaining in the coming days,” added Shohag.

Meanwhile, De Kruif expressed his desire of working with the Red and Green saying, “I will come when they call me and I’m still willing to come.” He added, “The important thing is the World Cup (qualifiers) games are coming and see where we are standing. We are in the lowest pot for the draw so the big teams are coming. Its important to play against big teams.”

Although it should hamper the preparations working in phases, De Kruif opined, “We did a lot of works before. All the players in the Bangladesh team are in my head. A few more is coming as we see their performance in the last Federation Cup. We will bring some extra players when I will come back to see how they perform in our group. Its not big problem for not staying here permanently. Titu has quality enough to see what is happening over here and give me the good report. My message is play games, train good, play as much as you can.”

The Dutchman also plans to bring in Bangladeshi expatriates in the squad like he did in flying in Jamal Bhuiyan who is now one of the most important players for Bangladesh. “We want to invite Riasat again who is now playing in Philippines. There are two young guys in Cardiff but they were born in 1998, young guys. We have a guy in Japan and one in Newcastle. That’s one of the plan that I still have to chase for but there must be a budget.”

German goalkeeper coach Christian Schweichler submitted a 78 pages of report to the federation after analysing Bangladesh goalkeepers in clubs and BKSP and he believes with the potential Bangladesh players have, they need proper goalkeeping training.

“There are young players who have potential and talented but they are suffering low level of coaching and training. They have lack of tactical understanding. In this 2015 this is absolutely essential,” said the German coach.

“The high quality goalkeeper is not only about standing on the line, catching the ball but you need football skills as well as tactical understanding, how to read the game, organise your defence, what to do with set pieces. That is something which is missing here. This is not only a problem in Bangladesh football but in Asia,” he added.

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Football today's paper >> 13 >> published: 00:33 march 13, 2015 Schweichler ready for Bangladesh challenge Raihan Mahmood

Christian Schweichler, Bangladesh’s new goalkeeping coach, is looking forward to make his presence felt in the upcoming AFC Under23 Qualifiers. The 36year old German and Lodewijk de Kruif, Bangladesh’s Dutch head coach, arrived in Dhaka yesterday.

De Kruif explained the reason behind the arrival of Schweichler. “Bangladesh’s goalkeeping was not perfect in the Bangabandhu Gold Cup and also in the Asian Games. So, I asked Bangladesh Football Federation president Kazi Salahuddin for a goalkeeping coach for the AFC U23 Qualifiers and he responded positively. You know, the best goalkeepers always come from Germany and they have a proven trackrecord. He has good experience about his business and I believe that he will be making his presence felt in the AFC U23 Qualifiers and Bangladesh will be benefitted,” said the Dutchman.

Schweichler was brimming with confidence when he faced the media yesterday. “I look forward to taking the challenge. Goalkeeping is an art and everywhere, it goes through some problems. It needs education, training and the right development programme in order to groom the goalkeepers. I will try my best to help the Bangladesh players although I will get a very short time. I have been with Lebanon in the World Cup Qualifiers. I was in Sudan with AlMerrikh and won the Super Cup. In 2013, I was in Saudi Arabia with AlEttifaq. So, I think I have a fair knowledge about Asian football,” said the German. Schweichler studied sports science at the highlyesteemed German Sport University Cologne and holds coaching qualifications obtained from the German Football Association and Royal Dutch Football Association. He also coached goalkeepers from clubs and teams associated with the Union of European Football Associations, the Confederation of African Football and the Asian Football Confederation.