Eric Mare takes charge of women's football team: will follow Butler's path, own the responsibility

Peter Butler, the familiar face in the dugout, is battling a deadly disease like cancer. In his difficult time, French coach Eric Mare arrived in Dhaka on Monday to take charge of the Bangladesh women's football team.

On the day, after completing the formalities of the contract at the BFF building, he faced the journalists. On his very first day he made it clear that, for now, he will follow the path shown by Butler in this short mission.

But if the team fails on the field, the new coach will take all the responsibility on his own shoulders instead of pointing fingers at his predecessor.

Bangladesh will play two friendly matches against Singapore on 1 and 5 December. Only about 10 days are in hand. Mare does not want to make any big changes in the team in such a short time.

Explaining his football philosophy, he said, you cannot change everything at the very beginning. For the last two years the girls have been playing in Peter's tactics. I will continue that. But within that, I will try to adjust things in our own way.

Asked who would be responsible if the expected result does not come against Singapore despite keeping Butler's tactics, Mare did not hesitate for a moment. He said, I will take full responsibility. I will be on the field and try to find solutions together with the coaching staff. So the responsibility will be mine.

At present, 41 women footballers are at the KPZ camp. Mare does not want to rely only on videos on a laptop screen or information on paper. Tonight itself he wants to go to the girls' training and watch their performance directly.

Mare said, I have watched the girls' information and videos for the last five days. But information or video is one thing, and the reality on the field is completely different. I want to see the girls on the field with my own eyes. The current coaching staff has a lot of information that I do not know. So I will take the final decision in coordination with them.

After observing the players for several days in a row, he will pick the final 23 from the squad of 41 for the Singapore tour.

Mare has joined BFF on a short-term contract for now. Asked whether he has any plan to take charge of the team for a longer term in the future, he showed full respect for Peter Butler.

Mare said, we must show respect to the person who is currently the coach of the team. Now is not the right time to talk about these things. BFF contacted me, so I have come here with only one mission. I hope we will succeed with the girls.

For now, Mare's entire focus is on the Singapore mission. It remains to be seen how quickly the new coach can organise the team left behind by Butler.