Camera-shy Bangladesh primed for Seychelles
The way fitness coach Ivan Razlog and physio Kandasmy Senthil Kumar Yoseshwar kept an eye on journalists, especially cameramen and photographers to ensure no footage of the training session was being captured, it seemed as if Bangladesh were set to play a crucial international match at the Sylhet District Stadium today.
3d ago
Equal payments but no leading roles frustrate gold medalist Priya
Karateka Marzan Akter Priya hurdled obstacles from within her family to take up sports as a profession. She won gold in karate in the 2019 South Asian Games. In an interview marking International Women’s Day on Wednesday, the fine arts student of Jagannath University talked to The Daily Star’s Anisur Rahman as she spoke about the special occasion and the scope and advancement of women in sports in general in the country.
2w ago
‘Still alive’ Jony now thriving on his journey
Although Mojibur Rahman Jony got into Bangladesh’s 27-member preliminary squad on the back of only 10 Bangladesh Premier League matches worth of experience, the 19-year-old attacking midfielder had to face serious hurdles on his journey so far; including a death-scare.
3w ago
From club’s third choice to national squad
Despite having been the third-choice player at his position, injuries to two of his teammates in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League not only paved the way for Abahani left-back Alomgir Mollah in cementing his place in the starting eleven but the 22-year-old went on to earn a call-up to the national team’s 27-member preliminary squad for the upcoming 2023 Tri Nations Cup at home.
3w ago
Little more than an empty gesture
Despite the introduction of the Bangladesh Youth Games, the nation is still apparently dwelling in the “something is better than nothing” era when it comes to forging a proper pipeline for athletes.
3w ago
Can Bangladesh athletics spring back to life?
For too long the country’s athletics had failed to live up to its celebrated past at the international stage. While the Bangladeshi sprinters -- the likes of Shah Alam, Bimal Chandra Tarafder, MahbubAlam -- contributed to five golds out of the overall eight medals in athletics from 1984 to 2019 at the regional multi-sports extravaganza in the form of South Asian Games, it has been 17 frustrating years since Mahfizur Rahman Mithu won a gold medal in 110m hurdles in the 2006 Colombo edition.
Latest school chess success invites renewed optimism
Schools across the world have always been considered as breeding grounds of all forms of sports. Sports at school level in Bangladesh were once vibrant and paved the way for many famous athletes to emerge in the fields of football, cricket, chess, hockey, athletics, and many other disciplines. Some of the school-based competitions which created such an impact were Inter-school Football tournament, Nirman School Cricket tournament, Bata School Chess tournament, and so on.
Lack of interest and competition stunting growth of women’s league
The success of women's football across different age-groups had demanded the re-introduction of the women's football league in a bid to provide female footballers with a foundation for them to stay in football and hone their skills for international competitions.
Girls hoist the flag of Bangladesh football
The country’s domestic football in 2022 was much more vibrant compared to any season in the past. All football competitions,
The other Lionel behind the rise
“We’re an intelligent squad, we know how to read the game, we know how to suffer when necessary, when to press. Every detail counts in every match,” Lionel Messi said after hurdling Croatia in the World Cup semifinal in Qatar.
WC rights balloon from 0 to Tk 98 crore for BTV
State-run Bangladesh Television bought the rights to cover all 66 2022 FIFA World Cup matches for a whopping Tk 98 crore after a belated move from the government.
Alfaz anticipates excitement in ‘special’ World Cup
Former Bangladesh international Alfaz Ahmed believes the Qatar World Cup is going to be full of excitement, especially considering that the world’s two most popular footballers, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Rolando, will be making their last appearance in the greatest show on earth.
Agrani Bank turns its back on football
State-run bank Agrani Bank Ltd decided to discard 50 years of its footballing heritage, saying in a letter that its club, Agrani Bank Ltd SC, would not be involved in any tournaments organised by the Bangladesh Football Federation due to cost-cutting measures.
Local booters' commitment issue resurfaces
Signing for a club after taking advanced payment from another club has apparently become a common phenomenon for the country's top footballers during the Bangladesh Premier League transfer window, and the latest one that began on October 8 ahead of the 2022-23 season proved to be no exception.
TT duo’s treatment raises questions
The incident of a Bangladesh Table Tennis team handing a walkover to their opponents happened not so long ago -- in 2014 during the World Team Table Tennis Championships in Japan. In that event, Rahima Khatun, Akhi Akter and Sharmin of the women’s team were fortunate not to face any punishment from the Bangladesh Table Tennis Federation (BTTF).
Theft of SAFF champs’ cash: How or where, no clue yet
Nobody could tell yesterday how $1,300 and other belongings of two of the heroes of Bangladesh’s SAFF Women’s Championship-winning team were stolen, staining the jubilations.
‘We shed tears of joy’
“After a lot of hard work, we enjoyed last night to the fullest. We shed tears of joy and we danced on the bus all the way to the hotel,”
‘No one knows how hard the girls toiled’
"We had a dream of winning the SAFF Women's Championship but we could not do it. The dream finally came true through this group of brilliant girls," was the instant reaction from former national striker Suinu Pru Marma, who represented Bangladesh in the first three editions of the regional women's football extravaganza.
'Got around 250-300 congratulatory messages'
Although volleyball was once widely practiced around the country, the sport began to lose its popularity in recent times until the men's senior national side recently started attracting attention after finishing as champions and runners-up on a few occasions in the Asian Senior Men's Central Zone International Volleyball Championship. The youth volleyball team followed in those footsteps, surprisingly finishing fifth in the just-concluded 21st Asian Men's Under-20 Volleyball Championship in Bahrain. Captain Tanvir Hossain Tonmoy was one of architects behind that success and the 6ft 2in 19-year-old spoke to The Daily Star's Anisur Rahman about their thrilling journey in the 17-nation tourney among other topics. The excerpts are below:
Without goals or vision, Commonwealth Games rut continues
Bangladesh have just concluded another campaign in the Commonwealth Games but the athletes hardly drew any attention from the country’s sports fraternity after again failing to perform on a big platform.
Father-son duo on verge of history
FIDE Master Tahsin Tajwar Zia was reluctant to learn the intricacies of chess from his father, Grandmaster Ziaur Rahman, but his interest bloomed as he found himself confined at home during the Covid-19 pandemic and now Tajwar is far more serious about the game and spends a lot of time learning from his prominent father.
Kings to bolster foreign brigade for international success
Having strengthened their foothold in the domestic circuit by winning a third consecutive Bangladesh Premier League title, Bashundhara Kings are setting their sights on becoming the best club in South Asia.
The secret to Kings’ domestic success
Though promoted football clubs usually struggle to survive in country’s top-tier football league, Bashundhara Kings have bucked the trend and have made a piece of history too with a third consecutive Bangladesh Premier League title.
Kings’ latest triumph ‘sweetest’ for Bruzon
Bashundhara Kings coach Oscar Bruzon termed the triumph of the hattrick title of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) as the ‘toughest and sweetest’ one compared to their previous two league titles.
Padma Bridge elevates Eid joy for Rahmat, Jewel
Due to the domestic and international engagements at the clubs or national team level, top footballers hardly get the scope to enjoy the religious festivals and vacations with family members, relatives and friends. And for some booters who get to be on leave but have to head to the other side of Padma river from Dhaka, most of their time would be spent crossing the river via ferry.
Long way to go for local gymnasts
After working with the country’s budding gymnasts for over two months, Korean coach Cho Sung Dong realised that Bangladeshi gymnasts and the coaches not only lack basic techniques but also trail in their thought processes toward the game.
School chess returns with a new hope
Since the emergence of Enamul Hossain Razib as the country’s fifth and last Grandmaster in 2008, no Bangladeshi chess player has won a single GM norm.
Gymnastics’ flame flickers
When it comes to the country’s gymnastics, Bangladeshi descent Margarita Mamun has perhaps been the lone consolation amid Bangladesh’s never-ending failure in the Olympic Games and, at the same time, she has likely been the sole source of inspiration for the country’s gymnasts.
‘I just thank God when I get a goal’
The Daily Star (DS): What was your first impression of Bangladesh?
Training the key to Robinho’s success
Robson Robinho was one of the major architects behind Bashundhara Kings’ domestic double in his debut season in Bangladesh football, scoring 24 goals.
Can Sazzad live up to Cabrera’s expectations?
Before the departure of the national football team for Jakarta on Friday for their FIFA friendly against Indonesia and the ensuing Asian Cup Qualifiers in Malaysia, the national team’s head coach Javier Cabrera remained optimistic about their chances despite the absence of experienced forwards in his squad.
Professional boxing not a sport, it’s a business
Bangladeshis are more familiar with amateur boxing, which they have competed in during different games like Olympics, Asian Games, South Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.
Gulf in quality highlights lack of proper process
Bangladesh Premier League champions Bashundhara Kings’ 4-0 capitulation against Indian Super League outfit ATK Mohun Bagan in the AFC Cup -- which came just a month after Abahani lost 3-1 to the same side -- may have shocked spectators, but both matches highlighted the gulf in quality between players of Bangladesh and India at the international level.
A Tk 350 investment that birthed a national footballer
“Because my father, who was a farmer, did a lot to empower me to pursue my dreams, I asked him to stop working and rely on me since I am earning handsome amounts by playing football,” Chittagong Abahani midfielder Sohel Rana said as he spoke of his father.
When a farmer’s boy dared to dream
This particular story begins from around 2018, even though the protagonist's story was set into motion much earlier. It was around four years ago when Abu Saied, son of an average farmer, had refused to succumb to his father's demands at a pivotal juncture of his life and, instead, chose the more risky road, one that is less traversed by, a route which is all but forbidden to most as the long and arduous trek through the forest of dreams happens to be filled with thorny uncertainties.
‘Each coach had a different philosophy’
Bangladesh’s reliable centre-back Tapu Barman boasts the experience of playing under a number of foreign coaches at the club level and the national team.
‘My Eid starts soon after I reach home’
“Having offered prayer at the mosque in the morning, I could not have sweetmeats like semai, payes or firni. Instead, I had usual breakfast at the hotel,” Bangladesh national football team striker Nabib Newaj Jibon recalled with anguish the memories of the Eid that he had to spend away from home while on tour to Laos for the first leg of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup Preliminary Joint Qualification in June 2019.
It gives me great joy, says Bruzon after 100 games in Kings' charge
Oscar Bruzon, who has coached in Spain, India, Maldives and Bangladesh, has reached a milestone of guiding Bashundhara Kings in 100 games as they played against Swadhinata Krira Sangha on Sunday. The Spaniard, apart from working as the head coach of Bangladesh national football team, had already steered Kings to two Bangladesh Premier League, two Federation Cup and one Independence Cup since he took over in 2018. The 44-year-old coach talked to The Daily Star's Anisur Rahman and expressed his views on different aspects of the game. The excerpts of the interview are as follows:
‘The coaching job is about being hired and fired’
39-year-old Afusi shared his past experiences and goals for the second phase of the league with The Daily Star’s Anisur Rahman. The excerpts are below:
‘This is something beyond our control’
Match-fixing in Bangladesh’s domestic football is nothing new, something that keeps rearing its ugly head almost every season.
‘Match-fixing has turned into an epidemic’
The Daily Star (DS): How was your maiden coaching experience long after retiring from football?
From minimum wage to Joga Bonito stage
Having once buried their dreams of becoming footballers, Shankar Bagti Madhu, Anik Deb Barma Shuvon and Rony Mia Habib settled for working as day labourers at tea garden, agricultural field and on the bank of river to help their respective families earn bread and butter, but dreams, more often than not, find their ways into fulfilment. A little push or a helping hand, sometimes, is all it takes to land on the highway of dreams.
Is there any place for BPL in the world of professional football?
Even in its 14th year, the Bangladesh Premier League is struggling to find its identity in the world of professional football. After being
Vibrant past, dismal present, only hope for the future
Unlike the prevailing scenario nowadays, many disciplines had a place in the country’s sporting arena in the past and regularly produced stars that would hog the national spotlight.
Where do they go from here?
Crisp passing, brilliant dibbling, coordinated attacks through either flanks and tight defending resulted in truly scintillating performances for Bangladesh on way to clinching the title of the SAFF U-19 Women Championship, but it was far from an easy task for the girls, who had to cross multiple hurdles to reach these heights.
‘I can help my second home’
Margarita Mamun (MM): It is my first visit after the Rio Olympic Games and I’m really happy and amazed to have received such a warm welcome from Bangladeshi people. I’m really happy to be here with my family. My mother is here, after 15 years, as well as my husband and our two-year-old son, who are here for the first time.
Time to stop going through the motions?
As the 13th edition of the South Asian football extravaganza concluded last night in Male, Bangladesh’s football fraternity should buckle up to thoroughly reflect on what transpired in the latest SAFF Championship for the country who last featured in the final of the prestigious tournament 16 long years ago.
Can Himalayan David slay neighbour Goliath?
The curtain of the 13th SAFF Championship draws to a close today after the seven-time champions India take on debutant finalist Nepal in the closing match of the regional football extravaganza at Maldives’ National Football Stadium in Male.
October 14, 2021
Spot-kick shatters Bangladesh’s dreams
Anjan Bista’s penalty, awarded by Uzbekistan referee Akhrol Riskullaev in a controversial fashion, in the dying minutes of the game broke the hearts of Bangladesh as Nepal came from behind to draw 1-1 in their final group fixture of the SAFF Championship at the National Football Stadium in Male yesterday.
October 13, 2021
Do-or-die against Nepal
Bangladesh national football team are looking forward to putting an end to a 16-year drought for a place in the SAFF Championship final as they square off against Nepal in a do-or-die clash at the National Football Stadium in Male, Maldives today.
October 12, 2021
Can Bangladesh overcome the odds?
The fate of Bangladesh in the ongoing SAFF Championship was no longer in their hands after losing 2-0 to Maldives in their third and penultimate match of the group stage, but it all changed on Sunday night after India beat Nepal 1-0 to keep their and Bangladesh’s hope of qualifying to the final.
October 11, 2021
Male’s turf pitches ‘like Heathrow Airport’
A mini artificial turf ground located on the east of Male, adjacent to the Hiyfaseyha Maidhaan, was seen buzzing with the presence of around 30 budding footballers, training under two coaches, of the Friends Football Family Academy.
October 10, 2021
‘Seeing a yellow card for team’s sake is a positive’
On the back of only a week-long preparation under interim coach Oscar Bruzon, Bangladesh national team surprised all in their first two matches against Sri Lanka and India in the ongoing SAFF Championship before suffering a defeat against hosts Maldives in their third match,
October 8, 2021
Bangladesh fall 2-0 to Maldives
High-flying Bangladesh tasted their first defeat in the 13th SAFF Championship, suffering a 0-2 defeat to Maldives at the National Football Stadium in Male yesterday.
October 7, 2021
‘Going to be even more challenging for Maldives’
Bolstered by a creditable 1-1 draw against India in the previous match, Bangladesh are looking forward to preserving the momentum of their performance in their crucial upcoming SAFF Championship encounter as they square off against the hosts and defending champions Maldives at the National Football Stadium in Male, Maldives today.
October 6, 2021
No more sleepless nights for Yeasin
Ahead of the start of the match against India in the SAFF Championship, Yeasin Arafat was distracted for a second as he recalled an incident in the final of the 2019 SAFF U-18 Championship against their Indian counterpart in Kathmandu when Bangladesh’s left-back had been sent off for a second booking after covering his face with his jersey in celebration after cancelling out a second-minute lead from Vikram Partap Singh.
October 6, 2021
Bangladesh football finds a new lease on life
Bangladesh football looked dead and buried during a World Cup Qualifier in Doha against India in June, defending for 90 minutes before their resistance was broken by a late Sunil Chhetri brace.
October 5, 2021
Ten-man Bangladesh hold India
The men in red and green jumped high to punch their fists in the air as 10-man Bangladesh courageously came from behind to hold seven-time champions India to a 1-1 draw in their second match of the SAFF Championship at the National Football Stadium in Male, Maldives.
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