Joy to retire from soccer tomorrow

Arif Khan Joy, one of the celebrities of recent time in the domestic soccer, will officially declare the end of his 18 years career tomorrow with his last match against Mohammedan Sporting Club.
Joy, former Bangladesh national team captain, was one of the most influential members during his playing day for national side, will end his one and half a decade journey in the football arena that he began from 1992 in the domestic soccer.
Joy, an amiable personality, a dashing and well-build physics, during his announcement to good-bye to the football, looked delightful as the moment of the retirement’s announcement will come from the ground.
“It’s a something gratification for me and I am so much happy with my career and had the privilege to give the announcement from where (Bangabandhu National Stadium) I started my top level playing career,” Joy explained his emotion. 
Joy, after picking up for the national side in 1992 from the Sher-e-Bangla National Football championship, put his step in the Dhaka Premier Division with PWD team under coaching of Sri Lankan Pakir Ali in next year.
After signing for the PWD, his 18 years colourful playing life did not look back as he played for all the local giants – Mohammedan, Abahani, Brothers and Muktijoddha and shared joy of victories of different championships.
He was the lucky member of all the giants during their winning time of Dhaka Premier Division league, different tournaments, professional league championship and also some happy moment of the national side.
Joy enjoyed the Mohammedans’ treble in a season with winning Nitol Tata National League title, Premier Division League and the Mohanagari Football Tournament championship and he is also proud for being a member of hat-trick championship of Abahani in the Professional Football League.
Joy, who wants to engage himself with soccer, said, “Despite I will be busy with my business but still football would remain as only subject in my life. Really it’s too much difficult to take the decision to say good bye, but it’s reality.”
 “The days of late ’90s were not going well, and I thought that my career was over but returning from there after struggling with injury, I played with same fame last few seasons,” Joy replied to a query at club tent at Dhanmondi on Tuesday. 
“Among my happy moments of winning the league titles for different teams, my greatest moment is the hat-trick championship of the Citycell Bangladesh League for Abahani, as it is something special in my career,” Joy said. 
Despite having a full engagement with business, as the chairman of JJM Group, will start a school, ‘Goal Football Schooling’ at Lalmatia in the city.
Joy, father of two children, believes that Bangladesh would play in the top level of Asian football in near future.
 
Courtesy of The Independent