Bangla-desh Football Federation has finally deferred the starting date of inter-club players’ transfer for the Bangladesh League for one month from September 1 to October 1. The decision was made at a meeting of the BFF’s emergency committee on Saturday.
Responding to the appeal by the seven clubs the BFF moved from its previous stance for the greater benefit of the game. Seven clubs – Brothers Union, Rahmatganj MFS, Farashganj SC, Arambagh KS, Chittagong Mohammedan SC, Chittagong Abahani and Feni Soccer Club – earlier informed the BFF about their inability to take part in the September 1-20 transfer window. With seven of the twelve clubs of Bangladesh League unwilling to participate in September’s transfer market, the ruling body of country’s football rescheduled the bourse.
Al Musabbir Sadi, general secretary of the BFF, explained the reasons for the deferment. ‘As most of the clubs appealed to hold the players’ transfer after the Eid-ul-Fitr citing difficulty in forming their teams the BFF responded positively to their plea. The players’ transfer will now take place from October 1 to 7 for the local players but the foreign players’ transfer window will remain open until October 15,’ said Sadi adding that the Bangladesh League committee has referred the issue to the emergency committee to take the final decision.
Amer Khan, the spokesman for the seven clubs, expressed satisfaction over the development. ‘We thank the federation for its decision to shift the transfer date; we never wanted to disrupt the league but we were undone, now we will be able to focus on forming the teams with a peaceful mind,’ said Amer.
Sadi also informed that the Federation Cup – the curtain raiser to Bangladesh football season, will kick off on the scheduled date of October 7. ‘It is an invitational tournament and we are not willing to disrupt our calendar. If the clubs want to play in the tournament we will welcome them,’ said Sadi.
Sadi also informed that the number of foreign players for each club will remain five including one goalkeeper and if there is no goalkeeper then the number of the player will be four.
The meeting also approved the appointment of Croatian Robert Rubcic as the head coach of the Bangladesh national team. The Croat will arrive in Dhaka in the first week of September. As the head coach of Bangladesh Rubcic will be receiving a purse $50,000 per annum and other local hospitalities.
