Even if the Bangladesh Premier League 2019-20 resumes after Covid-19 pandemic is subdued, the most likely option remained now is to go with the local footballers.
Some clubs like former treble winners Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra, Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra and Arambagh Krira Sangha reportedly said to have closed contracts with the foreign recruits for the season, is one of the reasons to assume the possible outcome.
Bangladesh Football Federation this week called a meeting of the executive committee Sunday to “discuss and decide about the BPL of ongoing 2019-20 football season”.
The coaches of low-budget clubs not only want to continue without the foreign players if the BPL resumes but also urged to reduce foreign players’ quota from next season.
Taking economic catastrophe to most clubs caused by Covid-19 into consideration and giving local players more playing opportunities, there is a proposal from BFF vice-president Kazi Nabil Ahmed to conclude the fixtures with locals only.
Two corporate clubs, Bashundhara Kings and Saif Sporting Club, along with most other clubs disagreed to continue but appreciated the idea of reducing foreign players next season.
Oscar Bruzon, the @BashundharaFC head coach, has opined to terminate the postponed Bangladesh Premier League if it can’t be resumed in June and start planning for the next season.https://t.co/7s6n5v3kmm#FOOTBALL #BANGLADESH #BANGLADESHFOOTBALL #BFF #OSCARBRUZON #BRUZON #OSCAR
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) May 9, 2020
Nabil, also acting director in-charge of Abahani Limited, the most successful club of the country, had his proposal to reduce the foreigners’ quota denied earlier by the BFF who rather allowed clubs to sign record five for 2019-20 season.
Jamie Day, the national team head coach, is another leading supporter of chopping off the number of foreigners as it has been hampering the local players as well as the national team, especially in the striker position that has long been dominated by the foreigners in domestic football.
Most clubs are feeling the financial heat due to Covid-19 as they have to spend half of their total budget behind the foreign recruits.
The situation is worse for the low-budget clubs who now have to think in realistic way for the post-corona days and there is not many options available but to reduce the number of foreign players.
“Problems in small clubs are bigger,” said Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society head coach and former BFF coach Syed Golam Jilani before adding, “It’s a very good proposal of Nabil bhai. It will give playing chances to around 100 footballers who were deprived of earlier. We can also know of quality of our local footballers.”
Jilani, who guided the old Dhaka outfit to the Federation Cup final for the first time in the club’s 87-year history, believe that allowing more than three foreigners in each team, two on the pitch, would never be a good idea from next season.
Maruful Haque, the head coach of Chittagong Abahani Limited, wants the Bangladesh Premier League 2019-20 season to continue, and will welcome the idea of concluding the remaining fixtures with the local players only.https://t.co/oVtsYikIWt#FOOTBALL #BANGLADESHFOOTBALL #BFF #BPL
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) May 9, 2020
Alfaz Ahmed, the head coach of Uttar Baridhara Club and former national star striker, is stricter than his counterpart.
He said, “It benefits local players and clubs to finish the BPL fixtures with locals only.
“If you want to know my opinion about foreigners’ quota, I would say no foreign players for next three-four years. It’s not only because they have become extra burden for the clubs but we also have to think about national team.”
Alfaz continued, “We have no genuine striker for national team. We don’t even have a solid player in each position of goalkeeping, defence, midfield, forward for long time. We should go locals only for some years. When our national team get strong then we can welcome back the foreigners again.”
Day however, is not in full favor of the idea.
The English coach had suggested two foreigners at each club earlier.
Meanwhile, the BFF has not even come to a decision regarding the fate of the ongoing league, let alone the next season which would not be the same as before due to the Covid-19 pandemic.