Bangladesh are turning to Portuguese coaching expertise in an attempt to improve their handball programme. However, Fernando Miguel de Oliveira Nunes will have just 42 days to prove his worth before the federation decides whether to offer him a longer-term contract.
Bangladesh are looking to take a step forward in international handball by bringing in Portuguese coach Fernando Miguel de Oliveira Nunes. According to Bangladeshi newspaper The Daily Ittefaq, Nunes is expected to arrive in Dhaka on November 7 and take charge of the national team’s training programme.
However, his appointment will initially be subject to a 42-day trial period. The Bangladesh Handball Federation will evaluate his work and the team’s progress before deciding whether to offer him a longer-term deal. The report quotes federation general secretary Salahuddin Ahmed, who says the intention is to introduce European training methods and improve the country’s handball development at both senior and youth levels.
The initial focus is expected to be on the men’s national team, although discussions are also ongoing about involving Nunes with the women’s team ahead of the Asian Women’s Handball Championship in Kazakhstan, scheduled for November 23 to December 3.
Bangladesh also have their sights set on next year’s South Asian Games in Pakistan. According to Ahmed, the federation hopes the new coaching appointment can help end the country’s long wait for a handball gold medal at the competition. The federation’s ambitions extend beyond the immediate results, with Ahmed pointing to a broader development plan and hoping to see significant progress over the next five years.
For Nunes, however, the first challenge is clear: he has 42 days to convince the federation that he is the right man for the job.
Read more: The Daily Ittefaq och PNN24