There is major uncertainty surrounding Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra as the football season approaches without an elected body running the Muktijoddha Sangsad.
‘Nothing is final yet. Due to the crisis with the central command election we are little bit on the back-foot about forming the team,’ coach Shafikul Islam Manik said on Friday.
‘Four teams – Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, Sheikh Russell Krira Chakra, Abahani Limited and Mohammedan Sporting Club – already formed their teams for the next season and most of the top teams started their pre-season camp, but we have not even confirmed our local players yet. So we will have to play without preparation.’
‘Most of the top players have already agreed with those teams, so it will be tough to build a strong side. The reality is that we have to form a middling side,’ said a disappointed Manik, whose side faced a similar crisis last year.
Joint Secretary for the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs Golam Mostafa, who is currently in charge of the Muktijoddha Sangsad, did not provide any information about the football team for the coming season.
‘I have to talk with the [State] Minister [for Liberation War Affairs, Captain (Retd) Tajul Islam] about forming the football, then I will say what we will do,’ Mostafa said on Friday.
Emdad Hossain Motin, former secretary general of the central command, also has doubts about the future of the team.
‘We had taken some initiative to form a strong team before we exited, but suddenly we were made to leave on August 13 due to ministry order, so I have doubts about the football team at the moment,’ Motin said on Friday.
There has been speculation that Abahani striker Enamul Haque and winger Ibnul Siraji might join Muktijoddha Sangsad KC, while Mohammedan midfielder Maruf Ahmed has also been linked to a return to his old club. Team officials said that they were trying to retain Zahed Parvez Chowdhury, Jewel Rana and Mohammed Yusuf for the next season.
The ongoing Inter Club Player Transfer Window will close on October 23, which means that football personnel must hope internal problems are resolved before that date so the team can be put together.
Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra finished sixth in the last Bangladesh Premier League after finishing second in 2011 and 2012.
-With New Age input
