The Bangladesh Hockey Federation reacted sharply to the boycott decision of the national players who decided to refrain from all hockey activities unless the federation
announces a timeframe for the inter-club player transfers.
‘This is very unexpected and unfortunate. We hope the situation will be resolved very soon,’ said wing commander Rafiul Haque, a representative of the BHF president Air Marshal Enamul Bari.
Khawaja Rahmatullah, general secretary of the BHF, believed that the players were influenced by a third-party that intends to damage the reputation of the federation.
Rahmatullah blamed Ariful Haque Prince, general secretary of the Players’ Welfare Association, who is also an official of Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited.
‘(Ariful Haque) Prince is behind the entire dilemma. He is playing double standards. First of all, as a representative of Mohammedan, he requested us to defer the transfer window. However, he is now instigating the hockey players to stage a protest against the federation for an unreasonable motive,’ said Rahmatullah.
‘I thought Prince wanted to taint the image of the current committee ahead of the upcoming election,’ Rahmatullah told reporters on Thursday.
Rahmatullah, however, was hopeful that the impasse will be over soon as they are in talks with the agitating players.
‘The players took their decision without consulting us. We hope that we will draw a final conclusion after meeting with the players.’
‘According to the calendar, the transfer window was supposed to open on May 28. The players started their protest long before the date which is very unfortunate,’ said a disappointed Rahmatullah.
‘We have done everything for the players, making sure the game of hockey features regularly on the field.’
‘If normalcy persisted, the players could have received their money and their financial troubles would have been gone. But we never had any intentions of resisting or interrupting their progress (player transfers),’ he added.
Rahmatullah alleged that Prince is holding the post of general secretary of the Players’ Welfare Association, although he retied from hockey three years ago.
‘When we created the players’ association, it was clearly stated in the constitution that only the current players will be eligible to be its members and organisers,’ said Rahmatullah.
Prince refuted the claim and accused Rahmatullah
of lying. He insisted that the Players’ Welfare Association was established for all types of hockey players.
‘This is a lie. This association is also for the current and former players,’ Prince told a reporter over the phone.
The tenure of the Players’ Welfare Association committee is two years but Prince has been occupying the post for long eight years as there were no elections for this post on previous occasions.
‘I don’t want to continue as the general secretary of the association but the players don’t want me to resign from the post,’ Prince said.
Prince also pointed a finger at Rahamatullah.
‘This is a conspiracy by Rahmat bhai. He is trying to defer the BHF elections through unfair means,’ said Prince.
‘I’m always with the players whatever the situation is. We were forced to launch this protest as the federation didn’t provide us any specific timeframe for the player transfers.
‘There is an uncertainty regarding the date of the election. In such situation, the players’ future has also become uncertain,’ added Prince.
-With New Age input
