Foreign booters still stuck in Dhaka
Even though Bangladesh has resumed international flight operations on a limited scale from Tuesday after three months' halt due to the coronavirus pandemic, a total of 52 foreign footballers of different clubs are still stuck in the country due to the closure of certain routes.
65 foreigners from Asia, Europe, Africa and Latin America were signed by 13 clubs for the 2019-20 BPL season which was later cancelled.
Even after settling' payments as per the 'FIFA-prescribed mutual understanding', the clubs are still arranging accommodation and food for the players on humanitarian grounds despite going through financial constraints themselves.
According to the BFF, only 13 of the 65 -- one each from Abahani, Sheikh Russel KC, Sheikh Jamal DC, Muktijoddha Sangsad, Brothers Union and two players each from Bashundhara Kings, Saif SC, Mohammedan SC and Bangladesh Police FC – have left Bangladesh during the pandemic with a few embassies arranging for special flights to take their citizen home. However, no players from Arambagh, Chattogram Abahani, Rahmatganj or Uttar Baridhara Club could leave the country.
"All five players are still in the club because the airports of their respective countries have not opened yet. The players told us that they are searching for available flights to leave Bangladesh but at the moment, ticket prices are very high," Rahmatganj MFS general secretary Imtiaz Hamid Sabuj said, adding that they have players from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Nigeria, Guinea and Gambia.
"Our foreign players were supposed to leave Bangladesh on June 16 but they either can't ensure their return tickets or the airports in their countries are closed," said Brothers Union manager Amer Khan. Amer also mentioned that Nigerian striker Nkowcha Kingsley, who has a residential card in the USA, and German coach Reza Parkas had left the country.
Two of Brothers' players from Uzbekistan and one each from Cameroon and Ivory Coast are now counting days to join their families back home.
Chattogram Abahani manager Arman Aziz said: "All five players from Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Brazil and Uzbekistan are trying to leave Bangladesh after June 25 as the flights for their destinations haven't resumed yet."
"Chattogram Abahani are still arranging everything such as accommodation, food, internet for the players even after clearing all the payments," said Aziz.
However, Brothers manager Amer said that they are struggling to arrange everything for the foreign players due to financial constraints. "Brothers Union are not strong enough financially, so it is an extra burden for us."
Foreign players of other clubs are also facing similar problems. BFF's competitions manager Taher Bin Ansari informed that Uzbekistani players, who tried to go to India to catch special flights to Uzbekistan, had to stay put as flights from India to Uzbekistan got cancelled. However, the Uzbekistan embassy in Dhaka is trying to arrange for a chartered flight for its citizens.
Ansari added that five Brazilian footballers are in touch with the Brazilian Embassy to leave Bangladesh.