While the Bangladesh Football Federation is trying to naturalise the foreign players in a bid to strengthen the national football team, the expatriate Bangladesh players are showing their interests to be part of the Bangladesh national team at different levels. The BFF has yet to place the applications for the citizenship of African trio — Guinean forward Ismail Bangoura, Ghanaian defender Samad Yussif and Nigerian forward Kingsley Chigozie — to the home ministry.
But three England-based Bangladeshi players have already sent their CVs to the BFF presenting their interest to play for the Bangladesh U-19 national team in the upcoming SAFF U-19 Championship and AFC U-19 Championship qualifiers in August-September.
The players are — Akmal, Rabbi Islam and Rahim Uddin, all three are based in Cardiff, Wales.
‘Of them, Akmal belongs to the U-21 group but Rabbi and Rahim are from the U-19 group. We want to observe all of them though Rabbi and Rahim are expected to come in Bangladesh for trial,’ said Bangladesh assistant coach Saiful Bari Titu on Saturday.
‘The BFF officials are in constant touch with the trio, who don’t have the Bangladeshi passport and they have been told that the BFF would start the procedure of the passport once they are selected for the national team at any level.
‘Rahim is much interested to take part for the Bangladesh U-19 team and promised to come in Bangladesh after his probable trail at the English Premier League club West Ham United.’
Apart from Akmal, Rabbi and Rahim, the game’s governing body has been searching for more expatriate players as well.
And they have found some English-based talents in — Hamza Chowdhury, who is monitored by the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Barcelona, Zidan Miah, a eight-year talented midfielder, Jaki Baranshil, Simanta Ahmed, Yasin Talha, Raheem Fernandez, Ahmeduzzaman Onasis and Zaman Arik.
‘Yes, we have found them by internet and they are thought to be Bangladeshi-born players’, said Titu.
‘We have yet to communicate with them but we will do it after knowing their consent whether they are interested to play for Bangladesh national team at different levels.’
-With New Age input
