Lemos wants to take Bangladesh to the final in Sri Lanka
The new coach of Bangladesh football team is coming to Dhaka next Sunday. He applied for a Bangladeshi visa at the Bangladesh Embassy in Seoul. In the first light on WhatsApp from South Korea today, Mario Lemos said that he will board the plane tomorrow if he gets a visa.
People at the Bangladesh embassy in Seoul know him well. Because, the 35-year-old Portuguese coach has taken Bangladesh visa from Seoul four or five times. He got married in Korea five years ago. He has a two-year-old daughter. It is 20 minutes away from Seoul. From there, Jamal Bhuiyan's new coach spoke to Prothom Alo today.
At the beginning of 2016, Lemos was the coach of Bangladesh football team for three months. Whether he has become the head coach of Bangladesh team from the trainer now. Lemos himself was surprised. He said, ‘I will become the coach of Bangladesh, I did not think so much. You can say, I was surprised to get the offer. But I gladly accepted it. Because, it's a great honor for me. BFF has put its trust in me, I want to repay that trust. I will give all my experience to keep the dignity. '
Wanted to see yourself at the top level all the time. He even dreamed of becoming the coach of a country's national team. Thanking the creator for fulfilling that dream so quickly, Lemos said, ‘I had a hard time coming to this level. I left the game at a young age due to injury and became a coach. I used to follow Jose Mourinho along. I always said to myself, it is possible for you to do something good. Today I got the result. I am very happy. '
But it doesn't work if you are happy. I want to do something good in the Sri Lanka tournament to be held on November 6-17. BFF has confidence in him. If you can't do well, you won't get rid of the critics. Lemos knows that well, ‘Of course I want to go to the final in the Sri Lankan tournament. That is my main goal. But I will think about the match. '
Lemos added, ‘Small tournament of four teams. There are chances to play three matches. The best two of the four teams will advance to the finals. We are not lagging behind in the tournaments with Sri Lanka, Maldives, Seychelles and Bangladesh. I think we have a chance to do better. It's not even difficult to be a champion. '
The Bangladesh interim coach said he was hungry to win, adding that Bangladesh had won one of four matches in the SAF Championship in the Maldives. 2 draws and 1 loss. I think the players of Bangladesh team are desperate to win. The supporters want the team to win. I will go to Sri Lanka in search of that victory. '
Lemos loves to move forward believing in himself. He said he did not want to be a trainer. Repeatedly wanted to be head coach. I am very happy to be able to do that. Stating that he is always positive, the new coach of Bangladesh said, "I believe that I have the talent to do well as the coach of the national team. I took Abahani to the second round of the AFC Cup for the first time. Then I made it to the inter-regional semifinals. However, I know that the club and the national team are not one. The national team is much tougher. However, I am ready to carry the burden of the national team. '
Bangladesh's acting coach Mario Lemos in the four-nation football tournament in Sri Lanka
Acting Bangladesh coach Mario Lemosfile at the four-nation football tournament in Sri Lanka Photo: Prothom Alo
At the end of the Sri Lankan tournament, Abahani will return as head coach. Lemos, who has been the coach of Abahani for two seasons, knows everything about football in this country. 99% of the players of Bangladesh national team are his acquaintances. He says it will be an advantage for him. However, do not change much from the SAF Championship team that has played in the Maldives. He also said, "I will not change more than two or three." Because, now the test, there is no time. '
Bangladesh played mainly defensive football under Jamie Day. In the Maldives SAF Championship under Oscar Brujon, Bangladesh was seen to play with extra fouls though it was a bit aggressive. There has been some criticism of the Brujon team. How will Lemos Bangladesh play? When asked, the new Bangladesh coach said, "We will play in the middle of the way Bangladesh played under Jamie and Brujon." That means I will play by combining the two. Don't be overly aggressive. I will play defensively again, but not that. We want to play organized and organized football. '