Teams look to spread friendship
The curtain on the Walton Inter-University Football Tournament is set to fall today through the final between Green University and Fareast University at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
Having played six matches each over the last 14 days, the two best sides of the 20-university tournament qualified for the final and the one to be crowned champions will receive the Faraaz Challenge Cup trophy.
However, the pre-final press conference at the Bangladesh Olympic Association auditorium yesterday was less about the competition and more about brotherhood and friendship among university students as well as restoring sports culture at university level.
“Winning the final is less important to us, rather we want to spread the motto of the tournament to keep the young generation away from drugs and radicalism,” said Green University coach Rashedul Islam.
“From the beginning, I tried to spread the spirit of Faraaz [Ayaaz Hossain] among the students. What Faraaz did is a rare incident in our society and I tried to make my players understand and appreciate teammates instead of criticising when mistakes are made on the pitch,” Islam said. “I know no one will be a big footballer through this tournament but I will be happy if football culture is built up at universities through this tournament.”
Fareast University coach Shafiqul Islam also felt that sports culture will return to universities through this tournament, which will help the youth get involved with sports rather than being derailed.
“Universities are gradually losing the sporting culture but I have seen huge enthusiasm among the students in this tournament and I think this trend will stay if this tournament is held every year,” said Shafiqul.
The two team's captains, former national footballers Golam Sarwar Tipu, Ashraf Uddin Ahmed Chunnu, Sheikh Mohammad Aslam, Hasanuzzaman Khan Bablu, Faraaz's elder brother Zaraif Ayaaz Hossain, organiser Fazlur Rahman Babul and Ha-Meem Group representative Saidur Rahman also spoke on the occasion.
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