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From England with vision

Lenin Gani
Mark Simon Harrison I came to Dhaka on February 27 with an exciting mission to raise the standard of Bangladesh football. He was happy when he returned home. The 39-year-old Englishman was appointed coach of the Bangladesh football team on March I after the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) closed the chapter on Shamir Shakir. A promising goalkeeper before injury ended his career prematurely. Mark left school at 16 to Join English First Division side Southampton In 1976 but without much success. He stayed three years before moving to Port Vale, a much lower division club. His big break however came three years later at Division One Stoke City where he made his debut as a professional footballer. It was also the year that he suffered that injury. He then went to Hellenic tn South Africa in 1985. Mark hanged up his boots the following year and decided to take up coaching. He returned home In 1991 and took over as youth coach at Bristol City in 1992. The following year he became goalkeeping coach of Premier League Everton until 1995. Before the । Bangladesh assignment, the UEFA ‘A' licence holder was an assistant coach at Oxford United for five years. A period that the handsome man from Derby still cherishes. Mark Is a devoted family man. His wife Julie is an accountant. They have I a 14-year-old son named Ryan and daughter Charlotte aged nine. The new Bangladesh coach spoke to the Daily Star Sport on Saturday, hours before leaving for Kuala Lumpur to .attend an Asian Football Confederation coaching seminar.
IltilU Sport (DSS): What factors led you to come here?
Mark Harrison (MH): Ive worked abroad before and enjoyed being in different places.
But 1 feel that rm pretty open-minded and always game for something different Ive been coaching in England for the last eight or nine years. And so I fancied a change to be frank. Obviously any coach wants to work at international level. I have been given a great opportunity and I am going to take it with both hands.
DSS: In your contract did you put in any specific clauses? Is there any opt out' clause?
MH: There were no special clauses in it. The contract, which was drawn up by the Asian Football Confederation, was a pretty standard one and I was happy with it. We sat down and discussed a few things. There were a lot of questions 1 had to ask and needed answers for. To be fair, ninety per cent of the answers 1 got were what 1 wanted, to hear and ten per cent
wasn't. But 1 had to on:weigh the good and the bad and in the end the contract was acceptable.
DSS: How much freedom has the BFF allowed you to run the team?
MH: I have total control of the team selection. People can say anything they like but I'm not bothered Anybody can say what he or she likes. They can pass comment, judge me. In the end I'll put my hands up and take complete responsibility for the team The squad I select and the team that walks onto the pitch will be mine.
DSS: What are your plans for the players in the short and long run?
MH: Okay short term. Ive just been sitting in my room now drawing up a training schedule for a tournament in the Maldives coming up which is important. Then there is a game in England against India. 1 think it s one game but possibly we might try and fit In maybe a British club. Later on it’s the Asian qualifiers for the World Cup.
DSS: Bangladesh footballers are generally considered physically weak. How do you intend to target this area?
MH: Ive got them for six weeks before we go to the Maldives. In that period of time I'm going to try and put them through quite a strenuous training programme in the early weeks, using a lot of British techniques which will hopefully strengthen them physically and mentally 1 11 also be looking into their diets. So there are two or three factors that I hope to improve. The things which are done in training the players can take away to do at their clubs. And so it s not for a short period Im hoping these players try and Implement them during the whole season.
DSS: Your predecessor Shamir Shakir was a great believer In counter-attacking football? Will you follow the style?
MH: Im a great believer in taking the game to the opposition. T am a big believer in attacking football. Though I'm saying this. I do not think we should throw the defence to the wind. 1 mean. I like to build from the back and have a good solid back four, a creative midfield and good frontline. But I also believe in going for the throat. I think one must have the strength in one’s convictions. I like to play entertaining football, attacking football and basically L am hoping we can take teams on.
DSS: Define your style of coaching?
MH: Enthusiasm, confidence and aggression. Now you can read them anyway you Oke. I think I coach enthusiastically and aggressively. Those are some ofthe facets I want to rub off on to my players. I want them to be full of confidence, full of pride, aggression and above all the wiffto win and be successful.
DSS: Was football always the first choice as a careersport?
MIL Absolutely. From when 1 can remember I've always wanted to be a footballer and nothing else.
DSS: Looking back on your playing career, what was the biggest regret?
MH: When I finished playing because of my injury I went sort amateur for a couple of years.
i was in the non-league England squad. We have two kinds the professional and amateur. I was in the amateur squad against Wales that’s as close as I came to playing for my country. Unfortunately, my career was cut short because of injury. Of course. 1 had aspirations to represent my country and 1 had the potential because I was already playing first-team football at 19 and in the old First Division by 21. That’s early for a goalkeeper in England. The injury was devastating. Mentally 1 wasn't prepared for that. It knocked me down but I was able to get up on my feet and decided that coaching was going to be my new career.
DSS: Pick your proudest and funniest moment?
MH: My proudest moment was when I made my Premiership (old First Division) debut for Stoke City against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Unfortunately, we lost 1-0 after Bryan Robson scored the only goal. Still it was a great day since both my father and mother were watching the game.
The funniest Incident that I can recall was while playing for Port Vale against a club called Bury'. Well the ball was played to me and I came out of my big area to clear it. I miss-kicked the ball when I was 20 yards off my Une. It went straight to the striker who was probably another 20 yards in front of me. I was in the middle of nowhere and he just lobbed it over my head Into the goal. So 1 had to ' walk all the way back to pick ' the ball out of the net. All the supporters. I think, behind the goal were hammering and abusing me.
DSS: How do you spend time off the pitch?
MH: When I was in England I'd like to go out with my wife to a restaurant for a meal. Otherwise I spend time at home with the children.
DSS: What is your favourite hobby?
MH: I used to try and play squash but I can't because of my knees. Also I enjoyed clay pigeon shooting. But now I am totally devoted to my Job.
DSS: Name your greatest sports idol?
MH: For me it’s got to be Gordon Banks as a goalkeeper and also I am a great fan of people Uke George Best who was a fantastic footballer.
DSS: What is your motto in life?
MH: I think, my motto in life is being honest, work hard and give everything you've got. At the end of the day if what you give is not good enough then at least you have tried.