Newcomers set sights on district, lower leagues
The newly elected Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) committee may not reflect the expectations of the general football fans, but the much talked-about polls produced nine new faces who are all set to work along long-serving BFF organisers, including four-time President Kazi Salahuddin for the next four years.
Those nine organisers may be newcomers in the 21-member executive committee but some have long been associated with the country's football and most want to work in two areas that are often under scrutiny -- district football and lower division football – and which have apparently been overlooked in past 12 years.
"I had been involved with different BFF sub-committees in the last tenure and I have come into the executive committee with hopes of contributing to the country's football. During the election campaigns, I heard the problems from delegates at district level and in the Dhaka metropolitan area. Districts can't hold leagues due to the sponsorship problems while Dhaka clubs at the lower divisions don't have a smooth pipeline to climb up the ladder. The lower division leagues are not being monitored perfectly. So, I want to work in this area," said newly elected member and Rahmatganj MFS General Secretary Imtiaz Hamid Sabuj, who competed in the Salahuddin-led panel.
"I never worked with Salahuddin bhai, who has been facing criticism, but we have to admit that there were some good work done as well as bad and it is good to have criticism for the bad, because then you can rectify yourself," said newly elected member and Brothers Union Manager Amer Khan, who competed against the Salahuddin-led panel.
"I have been involved with different clubs at levels ranging from the top to bottom, as clubs from my area play in different leagues. I heard different problems from officials of first-, second- and third-division teams, so I want to address those problems and regularise the lower division leagues in a bid to build a strong supply line of players," said Amer, adding that he also wants to ensure delegation rights for lower-division clubs.
New executive member and Noakhali DFA Abdul Wadud Pintu said, "Football has reached a state where now it has virtually no spectators. We have to work at district level and bring about the revival of the district league, Sher-e-Bangla national championship and Suhrawardi Cup, which can gradually bring spectators back to the gallery. As a representative from a district, I will fight to hold district leagues regularly."
"As I work at the grassroots level, my objective is to work in the same area from the federation. I saw the clubs of the first-, second- and third-division leagues face financial problems during transfers; I will look at how to involve the federation to address this problem. I also want to work to stop match-fixing in lower division leagues and to promote junior players to higher leagues," said newly elected member and Tangi KC President Nurul Islam Nuru, who also said that he would raise his voice in support of holding lower division leagues regularly.
Newly elected member and Wari Cub Joint Secretary Mohidur Rahman Miraz said, "I have seen there was grouping in every tenure and there were also irregularities and ego problems among the members. I will try to stop such attitudes and I want to work in my own way. I also want to apply pressure to regularise the lower and district football and introduce a preparatory tournament for Bangladesh Championship League clubs."
As Amer Khan and Imtiaz Hamid Sabuj have been involved with clubs of Bangladesh Premier League, they will also pay special attention to ensure a fixed season for the BPL.