Jovanovski not coming yet

GJORGJI JOVANOVSKI

Coach-elect Gjorgji Jovanovski of Macedonia has seemingly refused to take charge of the Bangladesh national football team before the FIFA World Cup pre-qualifiers against Pakistan in June and July on 'security grounds'.
Jovanovski was supposed to arrive here today but the Bangladesh Football Federation yesterday issued a press release stating that the new coach was not coming due to unavoidable circumstances and a fresh schedule regarding his arrival would be announced shortly.
“His (Jovanovski) agent called me today (Sunday) and told me that he will take charge after Bangladesh's away match against Pakistan,” said Team Management Committee chairman Badal Roy without elaborating.
However, it has been learnt that the 55-year old coach doesn't want to travel to Pakistan for security fears and reluctance from his family to allow him to travel to Pakistan. The Macedonian coach wants to take charge after Bangladesh's World Cup pre-qualifiers against Pakistan on July 3.
It was also stated by the BFF that security fear was one of reasons behind the departure of Bangladesh's former Croat coach Robert Rubcic.
Bangladesh Football Federation president Kazi Salahuddin exclaimed his displeasure at this sudden move by the Macedonian.
“If one does not serve our purpose when needed, what we have to do with him?” replied Salahuddin when asked whether they would consider Jovanovski if he arrives after July 3.
There are rumours that Jovanovski may be considering himself as a replacement for the just-terminated national coach of Macedonia Mirsad Jonuz, and that might be a reason for his not flying for Dhaka. According to an agency report, Macedonia will announce a new coach within the next 15 days.
NTMC chairman Badal Roy informed that they would now appoint an interim coach from amongst BFF coaching staff and BFF technical director Bayezid Alam Zobayer Nipu might be appointed interim head coach. BFF member Hasanuzzaman Khan Bablu is expected to be accompanying the national team apart from assistant coach Golam Zilani and Nipu.
In another move, the Bangladesh foot ball's governing body on Saturday officially asked FIFA to shift the 29th June's venue from Lahore to Dhaka or any neutral venue on security grounds. BFF were yet to get any reply from FIFA till yesterday.
It may be mentioned that Bangladesh raised the same issue of to the Pakistan Football Federation president and general secretary during the FIFA Congress in Zurich on June 1 but the Pakistani counterparts assured Bangladesh officials of providing enough security during Bangladesh's visit.
Asked whether BFF has taken any clearance from the government to travel to Pakistan, BFF executive Abu Nayeem Shohag said that they were now waiting for a reply from FIFA and then they would take initiatives regarding the security clearance from the government.
“Generally we let our embassy know about our schedule in the respective country we travel to play but this time we will write to the foreign ministry as well as our high commission in Pakistan if we have to travel there,” said Shohag.