A top official of Indian club Mohun Bagan proposed Bangladesh Football Federation president Kazi Salahuddin to organise a tournament in Dhaka featuring the top sides of India and Bangladesh.
The official expressed his interest on behalf of Mohun Bagan in light of Bangladeshi top flight club Sheikh Jamal DC’s recent successes in the IFA Shield in India.
Sheikh Jamal, who are in the final after defeating East Bengal in the semi-final on Tuesday, suffered an undeserving 2-1 loss against Kolkata Mohammedan on February 2 which prompted the club official to request Salahuddin to set up the competition.
Sheikh Jamal president Monjur Kader on Wednesday confirmed that a Mohun Bagan official, brother of West Bengal chief minister Mamata Bannerjee, made the request.
‘Mohun Bagan want to play in Dhaka and one of their officials asked Salahuddin to host a tournament with the top clubs of India and Bangladesh,’ said Monjur over phone.
‘After observing our playing standard, the top clubs of India showed their interest to play in Dhaka. Now the BFF will take initiatives,’ he added.
Sheikh Jamal will be looking to make history as they are bidding to become the first side from Bangladesh to win the IFA Shield when they take on Kolkata Mohammedan in the final on Saturday at Salt Lake Stadium.
Meanwhile, Salahuddin also admitted that Mohun Bagan are interested to play in Dhaka after returning from India where he watched the first semifinal of the IFA Shield in which Sheikh Jamal outclassed East Bengal by 3-0.
-With New Age input
