It took premier league champions Bashundhara Kings Tk13.25 lakhs, which was more than two and a half fold increase of the initial price tag, to get young goalkeeper Mohammad Asif during the auction of Bangladesh Football Federation Elite Academy players in the capital Saturday.
A total of 10 players were put up for auction and all of them were bought for the season by five top-flight clubs, including Abahani Limited, Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra, Fortis and Brothers Union.
Sources told Dhaka Tribune that BFF will get 60% of the money while the players will receive the remaining 40%.
Asif’s base price was Tk5 lakhs before it increased to the highest bid, followed by center-back Azizul Haque Ananto (Tk10 lakhs by Brothers) and midfielder Chandan Roy (Tk9 lakhs by Sheikh Russel).
“It's a big matter to join Bangladesh champions Bashundhara Kings. I’m very happy. It's a challenge for me and I want to take it positively,” said Asif.
Fortis targeted Chandan first but could not win the bid as they switched their attention to buy other midfielder Sajed Hasan Jumman Nijhum for Tk7.25 lakhs.
Abahani spent Tk7.75 lakhs to recruit forward Asadul Molla, who scored 14 goals in the Championship League, while Brothers won other promising forward Mirazul Islam for Tk6.5 lakhs.
All the six players mentioned above were under A category with a minimum price of Tk5 lakhs while all four B category players, tagged at Tk4 lakhs, were bought by Brothers without facing any other bid.
“I feel really good because Abahani are a traditional club in our country. It was my childhood dream to play for them,” reacted Asadul after the bid.
The remaining four players are defenders Sirajul Islam Rana, Mohammad Rubel Sheikh, Mohammad Imran Khan and forward Sree Suman Saren.
The auction ceremony took place at the grand ballroom of Hotel Intercontinental in the presence of BFF president Kazi Salahuddin, vice presidents Kazi Nabil Ahmed, Ataur Rahman Bhuiyan and Asian Football Confederation and BFF executive member Mahfuza Akter Kiron.
The officials of other premier league clubs including Mohammedan were also present as Nabil called the event, which is the first of its kind in Bangladesh, “historic” and hoped to put more academy players on auction in future.