Wikipedia

Shahidur Rahman Shantoo

Shahidur Rahman Chowdhury (Bengali: শহীদুর রহমান চৌধুরী; born 17 November 1947), known by his nickname Shantoo, is a former Bangladeshi football player and manager.[1]

Shantoo
Shantoo (R) in action for Pakistan in 1968
Personal information
Full name Shahidur Rahman Chowdhury
Date of birth (1947-11-17) 17 November 1947 (age 76)
Place of birth Rangpur, East Bengal, Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh)
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1966 Azad Sporting Club
1967–1969 Dhaka Wanderers
1969 Mohammedan SC
1970–1973 Dhaka Wanderers
1974 Azad Sporting Club
1975 East End Club
1976–1979 Mohammedan SC
1980–1982 Brothers Union
1983 Dhaka Wanderers
International career
1967–1969 Pakistan
1973–1982 Bangladesh
Managerial career
2003–2004 Bangladesh U17
2004 Bangladesh U23
2009 Bangladesh (interim)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career edit

In 1966, after giving his SSC examination in Rangpur, he moved to Dhaka. His football career started the same year for Azad Sporting Club in the Dhaka League, after impressing Azad coach Ranjit Das. However, before playing domestic football in Dhaka, he played in the inter-district team for Rangpur and the divisional team for Rajshahi, where his team reached the district final against Dhaka. He made a name for himself while playing for the Pakistan's two biggest clubs at the time Dhaka Wanderers and Mohammedan SC, before Bangladesh's independence.[2]

International career edit

Pakistan national team edit

In 1967, after making his move to Dhaka Wanderers, Shantoo was one of the only four East Pakistani players who were called up to the Pakistan national football team for the 1967 RCD Cup. The other players being Golam Sarwar Tipu, Pratap Shankar Hazra and Hafizuddin Ahmed.[3] In 1968, he represented Pakistan against a club from Soviet Union. He went on to represent Pakistan during the 1969 RCD Cup in Ankara, Turkey and also during the Friendship Cup held in Iran the same year.

I actually faced many strikers from Iran and Turkey in those three or four years (with the Pakistan national team). Since then, fear had largely disappeared. I was not afraid of anyone in Bangladesh.

— Shantoo regarding his experience playing for Pakistan.[4]

Bangladesh national team edit

After the 1971 Liberation War, Shantoo played for the President's XI team during the first football match in the newly independent Bangladesh, on 13 February 1972. He kept a cleansheet as his side defeated Bangladesh XI (unofficial Bangladesh national team) 2–0.[5] On 13 May 1972, Shantoo represented the Dhaka XI team as they defeated the first international football team to visit independent Bangladesh, Mohun Bagan AC by a goal from Kazi Salahuddin.[6]

In 1973, coach Sheikh Shaheb Ali named Shantoo in the first Bangladesh national football team squad which travelled to Malaysia fothe 1973 Merdeka Tournament. He made his debut for Bangladesh against Thailand during the country's first official international game. With the encounter ending 2–2, Bangladesh were reported to have lost on penalties. With Shantoo in goal, the defense that day included captain Zakaria Pintoo, Abdul Hakim, Sheikh Ashraf Ali and Nazir Ahmed Chowdhury.[7]

Shantoo remained the first choice goalkeeper for the national team during 1975 Merdeka Tournament in Malaysia, 1976 King's Cup and 1978 Asian Games in Bangkok, the 1980 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers in Dhaka, South Korea's 1979 President's Cup, Kuwait's 1980 AFC Asian Cup, President's Gold Cup in Dhaka in 1981 and lastly during the 1982 Quaid-e-Azam International Cup in Pakistan.[2][8]

Shantoo was made the national team captain for the 1978 Asian Games. At the time when the Dhaka Derby was one of the most heated football rivalries in South Asia, Bangladesh Football Federation's decision to choose Mohammedan SC's Shantoo over the more experienced Monwar Hossain Nannu of Abahani Krira Chakra, was criticized by both players and fans. This led to six Abahani players quitting the national team before the tournament.[9]

In the opening match of the 1980 AFC Asian Cup against North Korea, coach Abdur Rahim had to substitute an injured Shantoo for the second choice Wahiduzzaman Pintu. Nevertheless, after Pintu's consecutive blunders Bangladesh lost the opening game 2–3. Shantoo went onto start the next couple of the group-stage games against Syria and Iran, conceding a total of 8 goals during them.[10]

Coaching career edit

Bangladesh U17 edit

Shantoo first coached the Bangladesh U17 team during the 2004 AFC U-17 Championship qualification,[11] and led the team to qualification to the main round with a 3–0 aggregate victory over Kyrgyzstan U17.[12] His performance resulted in his contract being extended at the end of 2003.[13]

Shantoo remained incharge of the Bangladesh U17 team for the 2004 AFC U-17 Championship. Although the team got tharshed by Qatar and Iran during the tournament, the team produced future senior international players such as Mohamed Zahid Hossain and Mithun Chowdhury.[14]

Bangladesh U23 edit

Shantoo managed the defending champions Bangladesh U23 during the 2004 South Asian Games.[15] After a 0–0 draw with India and a 2–1 win over Afghanistan, going into the last group game the Bangladesh team needed a draw against Pakistan to advance past the group-stage. However, Muhammad Essa late penalty knocked Bangladesh out of the tournament.

BFF technical director edit

In October 2008, Shantoo was appointed as the first technical director of the Bangladesh Football Federation.[16] Shantoo served in his post until 31 October 2010 when he was replaced by Bayazid Alam Zubair Nipu.[17] It was reported that he was paid $3,000 in the first year, which was eventually reduced to Tk 1 lakh from his second year.[18] Shantoo was also responsible for the appointment of Brazilian coach Dido as the head coach of the Bangladesh national team in December 2008.[19]

Bangladesh edit

Shantoo was made the interim coach of the senior team before the 2009 SAFF Championship, after Brazilian coach Dido was sacked less than a month before the tournament got underway, as he refused to select established senior players.[14] Shantoo's team cruised through the group-stage, with 4–1 and 2–1 wins over Bhutan and Sri Lanka.[20][21] However, in the semi-final Bangladesh suffered an embarrassing defeat to eventual champions India who fielded an U23 side. The game marked the end of Shantoo's coaching career.[22]

Honours edit

Mohammedan SC

Brothers Union

East Pakistan

  • King Mahendra Cup: 1970

Awards and accolades edit

Cricket career edit

Shantoo also played domestic cricket for Mohammedan SC from 70s to 80s, and regularly played as a left-handed medium pace bowler. In the 1970s, during the Shahid Smriti tournament, he took 3 wickets in a single over against Dhaka Wanderers Club cricket team. During the 1963–64 season, he came to Dhaka to play summer cricket for the Sunrise Club of Rajshahi as an eighth grade student. In the first match against National Sporting, he created a surprise with 7 wickets for 14 runs. In the First Division Cricket League he made his debut playing for Dhaka Wanderers Club in 1967.[24]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Shahidur Rahman Shantoo (Coach)". www.national-football-teams.com.
  2. ^ a b "Dream Football Teams Analysis (Part 3)". Kiron's Sports Desk. Archived from the original on 2022-07-28. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  3. ^ "ফুটবলের জন্যই এক জীবনে এত সম্মান". Kalerkantho. October 17, 2014. Archived from the original on December 8, 2022. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  4. ^ Zubaear, Arafat. "'১:১ বেশি উপভোগ করতাম'". dhakapost.com. Archived from the original on 2023-05-06. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  5. ^ Alam, Masud. "বঙ্গবন্ধু বলেছিলেন, 'তোরা ভালো খেল'". Prothomalo. Archived from the original on 2022-09-29. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  6. ^ Alam, Masud. "৭ কোটি মানুষের জন্য ভালোবাসা নিয়ে ঢাকায় এসেছিল মোহনবাগান". Prothomalo.
  7. ^ "১৯৭৩ সালে যাদের হাত ধরে বাংলাদেশ জাতীয় ফুটবল দলের পথ চলা শুরু হয়েছিলো". Kiron's Sports Desk. Archived from the original on 2022-07-27. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  8. ^ "Quaid-E-Azam International Cup (Pakistan)". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 2022-07-13. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  9. ^ "The irreplaceable Nannu". The Daily Star. February 17, 2008. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  10. ^ ইকবাল, নাইর. "যে ম্যাচগুলো 'আফসোস' বাংলাদেশের ফুটবলে". Prothomalo. Archived from the original on 2023-02-02. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  11. ^ "BFF select 25 for camp". archive.thedailystar.net. Archived from the original on 2024-02-10. Retrieved 2024-02-10.
  12. ^ "Bangladesh in finals". archive.thedailystar.net. Archived from the original on 2024-02-10. Retrieved 2024-02-10.
  13. ^ "Shantoo's bigger mission". archive.thedailystar.net. Archived from the original on 2023-02-25. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  14. ^ a b Rahman, Anisur (November 18, 2009). "Shantoo wants to make a mark". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on March 6, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  15. ^ "The Booters' gold hunt starts today". archive.thedailystar.net. Archived from the original on 2023-05-15. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  16. ^ "'American Idols' type search for booters". The Daily Star. July 12, 2008. Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  17. ^ "Nipu new BFF tech director". The Daily Star. October 29, 2010. Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  18. ^ "BFF to have new technical director". The Daily Star. October 28, 2010. Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  19. ^ "Dido to focus on preps". The Daily Star. January 30, 2009. Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  20. ^ "Dido sacked as head football coach". bdnews24.com. Archived from the original on 2023-05-15. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  21. ^ "Shantoo hails teamwork". archive.thedailystar.net. Archived from the original on 2023-05-15. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  22. ^ "Hosts have no answers". The Daily Star. December 11, 2009. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  23. ^ "PM distributes Nat'l Sports Awards". The Daily Star. 2005-02-11. Archived from the original on 2018-09-08. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  24. ^ "আলো ছড়ানো তারকারা". Bangladesh Pratidin. 2017-04-17. Archived from the original on 2023-02-06. Retrieved 2023-02-06.

Bibliography edit

  • Dulal, Mahmud (2020). খেলার মাঠে মুক্তিযুদ্ধ (transl. Liberation war in the playground) (in Bengali). Bishhoshahitto Bhobon. ISBN 978-984-8218-31-0.
  • Dulal, Mahmud (2014). পাকিস্তান জাতীয় দল বাঙালি খেলোয়াড় (transl. Bengali players in the Pakistan national team) (in Bengali). Bishhoshahitto Bhobon.
  • Alam, Masud (2017). ফুটবলের গল্প ফুটবলারদের গল্প (transl. The story of football the story of footballers) (in Bengali). Bishhoshahitto Bhobon. ISBN 9789849134688.
  • Mahmud, Noman (2018). ফুটবল পায়ে মুক্তির যুদ্ধ (transl. Liberation war fought by football) (in Bengali). Agamee Prakashani. ISBN 978-984-8218-31-0.

External links edit

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