No visit by nat’l team

It took many by surprise when Federation Cup champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club players turned up at the FIFA World Cup trophy site at the Radisson Hotel yesterday afternoon while the national team, which was supposed to make a visit, did not show up.
The Sheikh Jamal players — both local and foreign — and the coaching staff spent some time at the hall room taking photographs with the trophy and talking to the media. Captain Mamunul Islam, who is also the current national team captain, said it would have been more meaningful and apt for the occasion had they come as the national team.
“We were told by the club to be here at a half hour’s notice. We are glad to be here but sad that we could not come as the national team. It would have been more graceful if we [national team] had come together wearing the national jersey. After the cancellation of the BNS venue, we were told by the Bangladesh Football Federation to attend of our own accord,” said Mamunul.
General secretary of BFF Abu Nayeem Shohag claimed that some of the clubs refused to let their national team players leave, but they might arrange a visit for today.