Bangladesh Football Federation president Kazi Salahuddin on Tuesday expressed his concern over the future of National Football Academy in Sylhet as government refused to extend the lease period. The BFF set up the academy at BKSP after the National Sports Council NSC allocated it for five years in December 2011. With the lease period set to expire this year, the BFF wanted the government to give it to them for at least 15 years, but a meeting of Salahuddin with the sports ministry secretary Kazi Akteruddin Ahmed did not bring any positive result.
‘I’m really in doubt over the future of our academy,’ said Salahuddin. ‘We need the BKSP for at least 15 years but to be honest I’m not very hopeful about it.
NSC secretary Ashok Kumar said they need more discussions before making a decision in this regard.
‘As per my understanding, BKSP also wants to use the facilities for some other disciplines alongside the football academy. But the BFF wants it exclusively for long-term,’ said Ashok. ‘So I think it will take more time to reach a solution.’
Though the NSC is undecided about giving the Sylhet BKSP to BFF for 15 years, it agreed to open up at least eight venues—Bangabandhu National Stadium, M.A. Aziz Stadium in Chittagong, Sylhet District Stadium, Rangpur District Stadium, Muktijuddha Smrity Stadium in Rajshahi, Mymenshing District Stadium, Barisal District Stadium and Khulna District Stadium— for the forthcoming edition of Bangladesh Premier League and franchisee-based Bangladesh Super League.
‘We have been trying to get some venues outside the capital for last six years, Salahuddin told reporters after his meeting with sports ministry secretary. ‘After today’s [Tuesday] meeting I’m really very hopeful in this regard.
‘To host professional league and BSL we need some quality venues and the ministry promised to give us eight to 10 venues after some renovations,’ he said.
-With New Age input
