The absence of foreign footballers in the forthcoming Super Cup has created an opportunity for the local players, who mostly found themselves consigned to the bench
in the recently concluded league, to prove their mettle.
Bangladesh Football Federation president Kazi Salahuddin recently announced that the Super Cup would be rescheduled to June without foreign players after the cancellation of the Bangladesh’s team’s UK friendlies.
There is a doubt hovering over the participation of Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club and Mohammedan Sporting Club, but local footballers said they are keen to take part in the cash-rich event, which has a prize money of Tk one crore for the champions.
‘I would like to thank (Kazi) Salahuddin bhai for his decision to hold the Super Cup without foreign players. There are a large number of local players available who were not getting proper chances to play club football due to the foreign players’ presence,’ said Mamunul Islam, national team midfielder.
‘With this verdict, the local players will finally get the chance to prove themselves,’ added Mamunul, who plies his trade with Sheikh Russell.
Mohammed Sujan, former captain of Bangladesh, also expressed his gratitude to the BFF for their decision.
‘If the BFF implement the ruling then the local players will be benefitted. The foreigners are occupying the place of the local players and the clubs are pinning their hopes on the overseas footballers so the local players receive very little opportunities of playing,’ said Sujan who retired from national team duties after the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers.
‘If the Super Cup is established without the foreigners, then the local players will get enough chances to feature in this competition,’ added the Abahani defender.
National striker Zahid Hasan Ameli was hopeful that the BFF will be able to hold the Super Cup flamboyantly, much like the first edition four years ago.
‘The Super Cup is a special tournament in our country and I personally want the event to be set up permanently. We played a historical final in 2009 in front of a full-house. We love to play football when there are thousands of spectators in the galleries,’ said Ameli, who was an integral member of Mohammedan’s title-winning squad in the tournament’s inaugural edition in 2009.
Meanwhile, Mohammedan midfielder Sohel Rana also stated his desire of taking part in the Super Cup even though his team have initially turned down the chance of participating in this tournament due to some internal problems.
‘I was dreaming of playing the Tk one crore Super Cup when I started my professional career in football. I believe that Mohammedan will reconsider their decision and we will participate in this attractive tournament,’ said Sohel Rana, also a member of the national team.
Kazi Salahuddin also notified the media regarding Mohammedan’s decision but he was optimistic that the Motijheel-based outfit will eventually partake in the Super Cup.
‘I personally talked with Lokman [Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan, member in charge of administration of Mohammedan] earlier and he agreed with my decision. But then I was informed that they did not want to play in the Super Cup. I will talk with all the clubs after arriving in Dhaka (today),’ said the BFF president, who went to Qatar for personal reasons.
-With New Age input
