The Bangladesh Football Federation are now planning to hold the Tk 1 crore Super Cup in June, BFF president Kazi Salahuddin informed on Wednesday after
officially postponing the national team’s tour of the UK.
The third edition of the Super Cup will take place without any foreign players and the top eight teams of the recently concluded Bangladesh Premier League will be participating in the competition.
‘It was very unfortunate that the UK friendlies were called off at the last moment, not only for us, but for the other two teams as well. The situation was not in our hands so we are now planning to hold the Super Cup in June. The format will be the same. Only the local players will be eligible to play in the meet,’ Salahuddin told reporters on Wednesday.
The professional league committee of BFF had earlier decided that they will organise the Super Cup in November and they also said they will not arrange the tournament this season due to the national team’s forthcoming assignments against India and Pakistan on June 1 and 8 respectively.
However, Indian-based Celebrity Management Group, organiser of the triangular series in England, decided to postpone it. After receiving the news of the postponement on Monday, the BFF president started planning on rescheduling date of the Super Cup.
‘No foreign players will be eligible in this tournament so the local players will get the chance to prove themselves ahead of the SAFF Football Championship at Nepal in September.
‘With this decision, the local players can have the spotlight amongst themselves and the clubs will get enough time for preparation keeping the Super Cup in mind,’ said Salahuddin.
Salahuddin had already discussed with the top teams personally regarding the nonparticipation of the foreign footballers and defending champions Abahani Limited, Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited and Brothers Union agreed to take part in the tournament without their overseas players.
Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club differed with the decision but the BFF president was hopeful that the Dhanmondi-based outfit would agree soon.
The first edition of the Super Cup was held in 2009 where Mohammedan announced themselves as the inaugural winners of the trophy while Abahani clinched the second Super Cup title two years later.
The BFF will finally hold the third edition after a two-year break despite the earlier promise of hosting the tournament every year.
The fixture and format of the Super Cup will be decided by the BFF within two or three days.
-With New Age input
