MSC coach focuses on players fitness
He wants to play some practice matches before the league start
M Anwar Ullah, Dhaka
Christopher Evans, newly appointed British coach of Mohammedan Sporting Club is mainly focusing on players fitness, determination and motivation to improve the teams result and position in the league.
Christopher, who is a UEFA A Licensed coach, joined Mohammedan just a month before the Federation Cup but had to go under surgery after a week and returned just before start of the tournament.
Mohammedan could not do expected result in the season opener when they were eliminated from the first round and going down to Bashundhara Kings by 5-2 was something embarrassing after being reduced to 10-man when the match was progressing 2-2 up to 70 minutes.
However, Christopher is hopeful with the team, as he has a bunch of young and experienced players and good team environment.
Christopher, when talking to The Independent yesterday at a hotel expressed his happiness with the players he has in the team but he wants to see players determination, motivation and commitment, overall mentally to mar the improvement.
It is positive, boys are very challenging, a good bunch of players, very team bonding good social environment between myself and coaching staff, specially the foreign players, so I think Mohammedan are in good position.
About the prospect of Mohammedan to keep up the position among the top four or five in the coming league, Christopher said, I think Mohammedan are in good position, potentially top five or six right now, mainly concern is fitness level, other reason Mohammedan could not hire a coach till September, we should have been preparing from July to set some target.
Club couldnt play friendly matches, so effectively into the season against Kings, my first game in charge team lost to Kings, so performance of learning and application of technique will continue.
I dont like to say this moment about not top four or five at the moment, because the gap of financial situations between the top clubs and Mohammedan are huge, I mean the Kings situation is extreme, players of top four teams represent national level, Jamie (national teams coach) has been with the national teams three or four months, top players are playing there and there are far difference between fitness level, professionalism. So I think top four teams have the effect of Jamies positive steps and it is reverse to Mohammedan, said Christopher.
Christopher repeatedly mentioned about the good atmosphere of the Mohammedan saying, The environment of Mohammedan has improved a lot with many issues off the field, not in terms of money but about organisation, doing everything logistic, director board working, they are doing a lot.
Players would have to determined, strong moral, should think we are Mohammedan, should set their motivation, then we can think about to surprise people but they are very aggressive, well responding when I have been working with fitness during Federation Cup, it should be continued.
Christopher is also very impressed with the Mohammedans foreign collection when he said, Kingsley performing very well, Landing is the best player in his position, the Japanese player is very intelligent, exceptional player, I am very impressed, said Christopher. Christopher also said that before starting the league it is important to play some practice matches We are at the moment need to identify weakness in key position, so we need to play practice matches before the start of the league.
