The nation’s football lovers will get the golden chance of witnessing the FIFA World Cup trophy once again as a replica of it will travel to Bangladesh in mid-December,
confirmed the Bangladesh Football Federation on Thursday.
The FIFA World Cup trophy earlier travelled to Bangladesh for the first time 11 years ago on April 27, 2002.
It was unveiled in front of a vociferous crowd of 50,000 at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. A friendly match, participated by veteran footballers, was arranged by the BFF on the occasion.
The 18-carat gold trophy will again reach Bangladesh on December 17 and it will be put on display at the BNS for the football fans the following day. The trophy will leave the country on December 19.
BFF president Kazi Salahuddin on Thursday met Abhijit Datta, regional country manager, South-East Asia of Coca-Cola, a
drinking partner of FIFA, to finalise the traveling details of the 14.4-inch trophy.
‘We want to bring the World Cup trophy to create a positive impression among the young football fans,’ Salahuddin said after the meeting on Thursday. ‘We also desire to increase the interest among youngsters in playing football.’
‘We want to display the trophy through a colourful programme and we would also like to give a chance to the football fans to take a snap with the trophy,’ he added.
Abu Nayeem Shohag, general secretary of the BFF also said that they were eagerly waiting to organise a vibrant program to display the world’s most recognisable trophy.
‘The football fans will get the opportunity to see it from upfront and they will even be given the chance to take a picture with the trophy,’ said Shohag.
Shohag also informed that Coca-Cola was trying to invite a former world cup winning captain to parade with the trophy. Lothar Matthaeus, captain of the victorious 1990 German side, will most likely come to Bangladesh during the three-day exhibition tour of the trophy.
After the Bangladesh tour, the replica trophy will travel to the other sub-continent countries like Bhutan, Nepal and India.
The trophy will then take a tour to Thailand as part of its worldwide tour around 100 countries.
-With New Age input
