"You don't know about Bangladesh or Asian football. You don't know about the rivals and don't have any friends over there. The probability is that you would be a failure," were the words of the wise man of Latin American football to Cruciani, who after 13 months as Bangladesh coach, realises how true his mentor had been.

"I feel that after this result, the Bangladesh Football Federation will not want me to stay. Of course all officials want results. And I have not delivered the goods," said Bangladesh's Argentine coach Cruciani yesterday after his boys were eliminated from the 10th South Asian Games medal contest following a 2-1 loss to India on Saturday here.

"In the last twelve months, I have worked on performance, style of players. They need to improve technically and have to learn more about football tactics, habits, mentality, spirit and feeling about the game," a visibly upset 42-year-old told on breakfast table at Trans Asia Hotel.

"What happened yesterday? Our players including the seniors did not start with hundred per cent concentration. They start with freezing mind and legs and take at least 15 minutes to settle when other teams move the ball around with hunger.

"But the second half was a big difference, because of change of psychological conditions. At the break I did some hard talking with the boys. Maybe they were charged up and realised what they needed to do to break the Indians. The played very good football, the football I teach them and I like."

Lamenting the missed opportunities, he said that the team desperately lacked a quality finisher.

"It's incredible, they got 14 chances and scored only one from a penalty. Any team who create so much options and lose all that, do not deserve to be the champions. If this team had improved 50 per cent in scoring, we would be talking about the semifinals now. Even during training sessions, our match results had been like 1-0 or 1-1, not many goals.

He said if he stayed two more years in Bangladesh, he could improve the level of football and the players. But he suggested that the clubs should a vital role to help the booters.

"Alfaz seems to be the only one the country has. But he is ageing. In junior teams there are very few skilled strikers. But we need tall, strong men who will be dangerous in the air and have powerful shooting. Also our attacking midfielders have same problem. I have seen the league last year where foreign players dominating the scoring.

"Our players are weak not only mentally, but also technically. Technique is natural and the coach's job is to help you perfect it. You have to practise long hours individually.

"Bangladesh have to start grooming players from the age of 11 or 12 years. They should have a big league of junior players, teach them shooting, control….all the techniques. A good idea would be to put a foreign coach with local coaches to assist him. The local coaches also need foreign training. The federation should take a long-term programme.

"In Argentina, we have a very good coaching manual. Even people from Europe come to study in our school of coaching, introduced by Menotti.

"If the BFF does not like me to continue, its okay. But I'll feel very, very sorry to leave. I know the players have the ability to play good football although in brief periods. Thirty years ago Bangladesh faced strong oppositions but why not now? Because football has been going down here," said Cruciani who has offers from clubs of Argentina, Mexico and Europe.

"To boost the game, the federation must set a plan to improve the level. And I feel that ex-players should be associated with football.

"In my country too, people who were not players are part of the football associations. Sometimes we have to fight with them. But one thing is sure that even the officials in our country know the game from childhood. That is the difference with our officials and in Bangladesh. They should take advice from former players.

"My job is not complete here. I need minimum three years, which is also not enough. But three years' work, another coach can come and work on that and then another. With this process, Bangladesh can be a strong team in Asia in ten years," hoped Cruciani, under whom Bangladesh have played attractive football with Latin American flavour occasionally, but without much success.