Shahidur Rahman Chowdhury (Bengali: শহীদুর রহমান চৌধুরী; born 17 November 1947), known by his nickname Shantoo, is a former Bangladeshifootball player and manager.[1]
Club career
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]
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
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 clean sheet 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 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 on to start the next couple of the group-stage games against Syria and Iran, conceding a total of 8 goals during them.[10]
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
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
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][20] Shantoo's team cruised through the group-stage, with 4–1 and 2–1 wins over Bhutan and Sri Lanka[21] However, in the semi-final Bangladesh suffered a 0–1 defeat to eventual champions India who had fielded an U23 side. The game marked the end of Shantoo's coaching career.[22]
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. In the 1976–77 season he was a member of the Comilla team that won the national title defeating Dacca in the final.[24]
^ abRahman, 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.
^"আলো ছড়ানো তারকারা". Bangladesh Pratidin. 2017-04-17. Archived from the original on 2023-02-06. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
Bibliography
Dulal, Mahmud (2020). খেলার মাঠে মুক্তিযুদ্ধ (transl. Liberation war in the playground) (in Bengali). Bishhoshahitto Bhobon. ISBN978-984-8218-31-0.
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. ISBN9789849134688.