BFF training plan falls flat

Zahid Hasan Emily (C) and Zahid Hossain (2nd from R), two of the most important players of the Bangladesh national football team, stretch along with their teammates at the Military Museum ground on the opening day of the training camp for national booters yesterday.Photo: Anisur Rahman

The Bangladesh Football Federation's (BFF) initiative to provide training to the country's top-booters in the off-season stumbled on the first day as Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club did not allow all its players to join the national camp.
The football's governing body yesterday started a 10-day residential camp with 81 players, who have been split into four groups and each of the groups comprised five to six players from Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, who had earlier not released their players for the national camp when Croat coach Robert Rubcic was at the helm in 2010.
“We have started our club training from today in a bid to scrutinize possible foreign players and how could we do it without local players,” said Sheikh Jamal football manager Anwarul Karim Helal yesterday adding that 20 players from Sheikh Jamal have been called for the national camp.
Asked whether the club can restrict 'free players' to join the national camp as all players are no long associated with the clubs after the end of last season in July, Helal said that they have already completed their agreements with those players and would submit all documents to the BFF in a few days as the players transfer got underway on August 16.
Meanwhile, the season's curtain raising tournament, Federation Cup, is supposed to get underway in the latter part of September.
Having raised questions on the importance of such short-term training, Helal asked why the federation did not arrange such training in the last two months when the players were free.
Kazi Nabil Ahmed, chairman of the BFF National Teams Committee, however said that they have asked the authority of Sheikh Jamal to release all of their players called for the national camp in next 24 hours.
“We are disappointed because of their (Sheikh Jamal) actions. However, we will be observing the matter closely and then take the necessary action,” said Nabil, who is also vice president of Bangladesh Football Federation.
The camp will also miss seven players, who have been suffering from different injuries. Defenders Ariful Islam, Nasirul Islam, midfielder Imon Babu, Arman Aziz, Shahedul Alam, Touhidul Alam and Saikat Bhoumick have been ruled out of the 10 days camp.
However, other players had their first practice session under their respective coaches at the Military Museum ground and the BFF astroturf.