Defending champions Bangladesh made a flying start in the AHF Cup with a 5-1 win against Kazakhstan in their Pool B opener in Jakarta, Indonesia on Friday.

Experienced coach Mamun Ur Rashid has been appointed head coach of the Bangladesh national hockey team for April’s AHF Cup in Indonesia. A former national player (1989–2001), he previously coached the U-21 team four times and led the senior side in World Hockey League Round 2 in 2015. The 52-year-old spoke to The Daily Star’s Anisur Rahman about upcoming challenges and the activities of the Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF). Excerpts of the conversation are below: