2020 BFF Polls: Stars seek PM’s directives

A group of former national footballers have sought directives from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to get the country's 'football out of crisis' ahead of Bangladesh Football Federation's (BFF) elections.

The appeal was made yesterday at a discussion meeting titled 'BFF elections 2020: Time demands change and what we can do,' organised by a group of former footballers who represented Bangladesh before and after the Liberation War.

The meeting was held in view of the BFF elections scheduled for April 20, with incumbent president Kazi Salahuddin already announcing his intention to contest fourth a successive term.

Swadhin Bangla Football Team's captain Jakaria Pintu, vice-captain Protap Shankar Hazra, former player-turned-coach Golam Sarwar Tipu, Badal Roy, Korshed Alam Babul, Hasanuzzaman Khan Bablu, Sheikh Mohammad Aslam, Ohiduzzaman Pintu, Kaiser Hamid, Imtiaz Sultan Jonny, Alfaz Ahmed, Arman Mia and others gathered at the National Press Club to discuss the poor state of country's football, which currently lie in the lowest tier of FIFA Ranking.

Reading from a written statement prepared by the footballers, Bablu presented facts and figures of country's football such as FIFA ranking, activities at grassroots, irregular Dhaka leagues, district leagues, failure of establishing a football academy, women's football, participation of lower-standard foreign teams in Bangabandhu Gold Cup and promises made in Salahuddin's 2016 election manifesto.

All the footballers extended their support to Badal Roy, who has said he would contest against Salahuddin if no one else forward to challenge the BFF president, especially after Chattogram Abahani director and Saif SC managing director Tarafder Ruhul Amin pulled out of running.

"The game of football has died. Leadership is important to take the game forward but Mr Salahuddin does not want to face challenge. We can't let him be elected uncontested. He is even trying to influence his opponents to get out of the race. As he is trying to force the opponents to stay away from the election, which is why I am going to contest against him," Roy said, asking Salahuddin to make the election environment congenial.

"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is like my mother as she saved my life. We believe the PM will take our appeal into consideration as we have all gathered here in the greater interest of football despite retiring from football long ago," Roy said, adding that he cannot avoid responsibility as a vice-president of the federation.

Alfaz Ahmed said, "Salahuddin bhai had the chance to prove himself as a good organiser, but he could not do so in the last 12 years. I think he should leave the BFF post to give someone a chance to serve country's football."

"Bangladesh is improving in every sector under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina but football is walking backwards. Bangladesh now concede four/five goals against countries we used to beat by seven or eight goals," Kaiser Hamid said, adding a supplementary question, "If any coach fails to bring success to the team, the coach is terminated. Then why the leader of BFF won't be changed?"

Pratap Sankar Hazra said, "Salahuddin should leave the BFF to give someone from the new generation a chance, so that we can again see some hope in football."

Sheikh Mohammad Aslam said, "A yes/no vote can be conducted for Kazi Salahuddin. If countrymen vote for Salahuddin, then he will not need to contest in BFF elections. But I believe 99 percent of people will jot choose him."

Imtiaz Sultan Jonny said, "We are not against any individual, we want change in BFF leadership because the former footballers still face uncomfortable questions from the public about the poor state of football."

Later everyone pledged their support to Roy, who said he would meet with the PM before contesting in the BFF polls.