5 zonal venues named

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) yesterday named Noakhali, Sylhet, Sirajganj, Jhenidah and Jamalpur as the five zonal venues for the preliminary round of the third National Football League (NFL).

The venues were finalised by the newly formed NFL tournament committee in its first meeting on Saturday night.

Fifty-five districts have been split up for the preliminary round that has been scheduled to start from June 18. Besides, five service teams, Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy, Bangladesh Air Force, Bangladesh Rifles and Bangladesh Police will also take part in the preliminary round in a separate zone named as 'Seba'.

Winners of the six zones will join Dhaka giants Mohammedan Sporting Club, Abahani Krira Chakra, Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra and Arambagh Krira Sangha in the final round.

However, with only nine days left, the organisers are yet to strike a sponsorship deal with sponsor Nitol-Tata. According to BFF general secretary Anwarul Haque Helal, the sponsors were ready to pay BFF Taka 40 lakh but they wanted more.

"They (sponsors) want to pay us the same amount they spent in the last edition. Even 40 lakh taka was half of the total amount BFF spent in the second NFL. So, this time we want more from them. Our marketing agent is trying to negotiate a deal," said Helal.

Talking to The Daily Star Sport at the BFF office, Helal added that last year's budget was Taka 80 lakh but they would try to cut the figure to Taka 70 lakh this time despite the number of participants being increased.

Following are the 55 districts according to their zones:

NOAKHALI: Chittagong, Bandarban, Cox's Bazar, Noakhali, Feni, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Gazipur, Manikganj, Comilla and Bhola.

SYLHET: Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Sunamganj, Sylhet, Narshingdi, Kishoreganj, Netrokona, Mymensingh, Sherpur and Rajbari.

SIRAJGANJ: Kurigram, Chapai-nawabganj, Sirajganj, Bogra, Joypurhat, Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat and Kushtia.

JHENIDAH: Jessore, Khulna, Bagerhat, Jhenidah, Satkhira, Chuadanga, Barisal, Barguna, Patuakhali, Jhalakathi, Magura and Pirojpur.

JAMALPUR: Madaripur, Shariyatpur, Jamalpur, Gopalganj, Faridpur, Pabna, Gaibandha, Natore, Rangpur, Naogaon, Narayanganj and Tangail.