The Bangladesh Football Federation successfully organised the cash-rich Super Cup without foreign players. After a flourishing tournament with the local players,
the BFF is now being lauded in many quarters for their decision.
Several officials also expressed their hope about decreasing the foreign quota for next season.
Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited clinched the third edition of the tournament after fervent displays portrayed by their local footballers throughout the competition.
The Black-and-White outfit’s attacking duo Wahed Ahmed and Mobarak Hossain Bhuiyan are two such names who shone brightly but if the foreigners were eligible to take part in the tournament, perhaps they would not have featured at all.
Mohammedan coach Saiful Bari Titu said that the local booters utilised the opportunities properly and raised the tone about decreasing the foreign players’ quota for the upcoming season.
‘The local players proved that they have the potential to play good football without the foreigners. I would like to personally thank the BFF for hosting the tournament without foreign players. With this decision, the BFF now has the option of many substitute players for the same position which will help to build up a strong national team,’ said Titu.
Titu went on to state that he yearns to see the foreign quota registration reduced from seven to four next season, with each team allotted the choice of fielding three foreign players per game instead of the four this season.
Young striker Wahed, who was selected for the national team after his stellar performances in the Super Cup, also pressed home his demand of reducing the foreign quota.
‘Due to the presence of the foreign players I did not receive enough chances to prove myself before the Super Cup. But now, we showed that we can cope without them. I am hopeful that the BFF will After that I hopeful that the BFF will trim down the foreign players’ quota,’ said Wahed, who scored three goals in the competition, including the equalising goal in Tuesday’s final.
The most valuable player of the tournament, Mobarak, was also thankful towards the BFF because of their decision and he was visibly delighted after getting a call-up to the national camp.
‘The club [Mohammedan] were not that confident with us [local players] in the absence of the foreign players. But we promised that we will repay their assurance and finally we did it. If the foreign players had taken part in the tournament then maybe I would not have been picked for the national team,’ said the attacking midfielder.
Former national captain Imtiaz Ahmed Nakib suggested the governing body to organise all tournaments without the foreign players.
‘If all three tournaments [Bangladesh Premier League, Federation Cup and Independence Cup] were to be held without the foreigners then the crisis of the local players for the national team will end,’ he said.
The Motijheel-based outfit also wanted the foreign players’ quota to be decreased.
‘Before the tournament we were not so certain about our local players and we refused to play without the foreigners. But when all of our well-wishers requested us to participate in the most prestigious tournament, we decided to play and I thank all my local players for bringing back our glory,’ said Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan, director in charge of administration of Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited.
‘I believe that the foreign players’ quota should be reduced, maybe the number will be one or two,’ he added.
However, BFF president Kazi Salahuddin reacted happily but did not support the players, coaches and clubs’ demand.
‘I was happy with the performance of the local players but I do not support the notion of reducing the foreign players’ quota because in the international arena, all the players have to face the foreigners. The local strikers do not face enough challenges from the local defenders so it is essential to play against better players in the domestic game,’ said the BFF president.
-With New Age input
