The Walton Independence Day Cup hockey tournament gets underway today at the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium without defending champions Mohammedan and runners-up Usha Krira Chakra.
Giants Abahani are also absent from this tourney but some top and promising players will be featuring for the newly shaped team Players’ Fashion.
Bangladesh Hockey Federation general secretary Khaja Rahmatullah expressed his disappointment while informing that the giant teams did not retort to BHF’s invitation.
`We invited the defending champions (Mohammedan) and runners-up (Usha KC) as well as Abahani but they did not respond to our invitation,’ said Rahmatullah at a press conference on Sunday.
`The clubs could not organise their squads once the players left following the completion of the league,’ explained Rahmatullah.
Five teams including four services teams will be playing in the round-robin league and the two top teams will contest the final on April 4. The opening day will see Bangladesh Army taking on Bangladesh Police.
Sponsors Walton will provide Tk 2.5 lakh and grant an additional Tk 2 lakh for branding, including awarding a refrigerator for the highest scorer of the tournament, informed FM Iqbal Bin Anwar, senior deputy director of RB Group.
Participating teams: Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Air Force, Bangladesh Navy, Players’ Fashion and Bangladesh Police.
-With New Age input
