Shantoo's challenge
Sports Reporter
Coach Shahidur Rahman Shantoo believes his young charges are capable of defeating the current national football team any given day. After a not so memorable experience with the Under-23 side in the ninth South Asian Federation (SAF) Games, the former Bangladesh custodian wants to prove a point and lead his Under-17 team to glory at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Championship in Japan this September. "My boys are not only superior in terms of fitness, I can say with confidence that they can outplay their seniors in every other departments as well," he told The Daily Star Sport at the BKSP on Wednesday. Shantoo guided the Under-17 side to the final round of the AFC competition. In the qualifiers, they had won 3-0 (2-0 and 1-0) on aggregate against Kyrgyzstan last October. Shantoo felt his forthright statement was a fair assessment of the standards based on what he had seen in the Islamabad SAF Games. "How can you achieve anything with players who are capable of running for just 40 minutes? Also they have little idea of modern day football. Compare that with the Under-17s who are bundles of energy and can last 150 minutes if necessary," said Shantoo who was originally given charge of the national Under-17 squad last August but had to prepare the senior team for the SAF Games at the request of the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF). "I believe my boys are real prospects for Bangladesh football. Their shooting, ball control and stamina is unbelievable. They are eager to embrace modern footballing techniques." Bangladesh have been pitted in Group D along with Uzbekistan, Qatar and Iraq. The top two finishers will enter the quarterfinals. "So far I have given them an idea of our opponents who follow the European style. Our preparation has been good and I'm hopeful that they won't disappoint the country like the national team did in Pakistan," added Shantoo. The Under-17 side is expected to fly to Thailand on June 25 or 26 to play four practice matches but Shantoo is keen on more warm-up games. "Ideally, we need at least 16 practice matches before the tournament starts and I have outlined my plans to the BFF." The no-nonsense coach also wants a sports medicine specialist to accompany his side. "A sports medicine specialist is very essential. I have underlined the need in my development proposal which was submitted to the BFF recently."
| 
