With the Bangabandhu Cup football just around the corner, the Bangladesh Football Federation appeared helpless despite players’ commitment to the national team was called into question.
A total of 12 national players, including captain Mamunul Islam, played an unauthorised match at Narayanganj on Sunday, days before the tournament that is scheduled to be held from January 8 to 18.
Bangladesh are scheduled to face Sri Lanka in the opening match of the tournament in Jessore.
The decision of the players to play the game, popularly known as khep, left football organisers ,former footballers and BFF officials stunned as it occured in less than a week after the disastrous campaign of SAFF Suzuki Cup.
Former footballer Golam Sarwar Tipu raised a question over players’ commitment to the national duty.
‘The background from which the players come, it’s difficult for them to realise the difference between a match for the national team and a match at a village,’ Tipu told New Age.
‘They don’t have that education. We have lack of quality footballers so the BFF became hostage to them.’
The BFF said it is in no position to take any action against players as it has very few options left to form the team for the Bangabandhu Cup.
‘Right at this moment I can just wish my team good luck for the forthcoming tournament,’ BFF president Kazi Salahuddin told New Age on Monday.
‘This is not the right time to make any comment and take any decision over this matter because we have to play the Bangabandhu Cup,’ he said, adding that his heart is still aching because of the SAFF debacle.
‘I did not play in the SAFF. Even I didn’t coach the team. I just did the things what I had to do in order to help them perform… I cannot really explain what is going on in my mind right now.’
National team manager Elias Hossain informed that Salahuddin met the national players after they reported for the national team duty on Monday and gave an inspirational speech.
‘Salahuddin Bhai told the players to forget the past and give their best in the Bangabandhu Cup,’ he said. According to Elias, Salahuddin told the players that the Bangabandhu Cup provides them the right platform to regain their confidence after the SAFF debacle.
Bangladesh coach Maruful Haque also refused to make any comments over the issue.
-With New Age input
