Messi's Bangladesh visit confirmed

BFF president Kazi Salahuddin (C) celebrates the completion of his third year in office by confirming the international friendly match between Argentina and Nigeria in Dhaka on September 6 in a press conference at the BFF House yesterday. Photo: STAR

Argentina's national football team, including Barcelona star Lionel Messi, will be in Bangladesh to play a FIFA International Friendly match against the Nigeria national side on September 6 this year, confirmed Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) president Kazi Salahuddin at a press conference at the BFF House yesterday.
“The contract is a binding one which will ensure Messi comes,” said BFF boss adding that the presence of two of the world's footballing powers will create a tremendous resurgence of football among the young generation and also showcase to the world that Bangladesh have the logistics and infrastructure to organise such a big international football match.
A contract to the effect was signed by BFF with sponsors Beximco Group and Kolkata-based event management company Celebrity Management Group (CMG) who are brokering the deal to bring Argentina to Kolkata on September 2 where they will play an exhibition match against Venezuela.
BFF president Kazi Salahuddin, director of Beximco Group Shayan F Rahman and chief executive officer of CMG Dharamdutt Pandey signed on behalf of their respective sides. Other high officials of the three parties were also present at the conference.
The press conference also disclosed details of a nationwide Under-18 Championship that is scheduled to begin from next month. Beximco Group will be the sponsors for the Under-18 tournament, in addition to being sponsors of the Argentina-Nigeria friendly.
Salahuddin announced that they would do everything along with the sponsors to make sure the marquee match between two of the world's best sides is a grand success. However, he did not give out any details about the specifics of the match, such as which players will be available, fixing of ticket prices, accommodation of teams, and the financial and marketing aspects related to the match, as he said those were still works in progress and will likely be finalised within a month.
When asked about whether the Bangabandhu National Stadium can hold such a marquee match, Salahuddin said they would ensure everything is done according to international standards. Whether it is the ground, spectator facilities or the ticketing system, he said they would follow the best in the business.
Salahuddin divulged some of the details of the Under-18 Championship which will start in May across all 64 districts and seven divisions. Champions of each division will come to Dhaka to compete in the final round. Meanwhile, twenty BFF development coaches will be scouting across the country to pick talented players for the Football Academy that is being constructed in Sylhet. Salahuddin said the Academy, which will have footballers at U-14, U-16, and U-18 levels, will work as a grooming centre for footballers for the national stage.
Shayan F Rahman, the director of Beximco Group, said the Under-18 championship will be a stepping stone for the overall development of football in the country which will ultimately deliver a competitive national side within the time they stay with this campaign over the next five years.