Owners and officials of the top premier league clubs have criticised and protested the Bangladesh Football Federation's decision to postpone this season's Super Cup and Independence Cup.
The season-ending Super Cup was first introduced in Bangladesh football in 2009 with the promise of holding the money-spinning tournament every year. However, the BFF has failed in its promise as the cash-rich competition took place three times in the last six years and only once since 2013.
Premier league champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Limited's president Manjur Kader led the chorus of criticism towards the governing body of football in the country.
“They (BFF) gave us a calender which promised us four professional tournaments in a year. They should follow it. If they do not follow the calender, we will make them do so. If the football federation thinks that we, who run football clubs, are slaves then I'm sorry,” said a disappointed Kader to the media yesterday.
Sheikh Jamal began the new season with the aim of winning a treble and they have been nurturing their ambitions for a while now. They have already claimed two professional tournaments – the Federation Cup and Bangaldesh Premier League – to make it a double but no Super Cup and Independence Cup this season means they cannot clinch the treble.
“They should have consulted all the clubs before taking such a decision. It's a conspiracy by the federation and I hate this decision. The clubs spend 'koti koti' (crores and crores) Tk, only to play the league?” enquired a furious Kader.
Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited's director-in-charge Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan echoed a similar sentiment and informed that the clubs will all sit for a meeting next week and protest against the decision.
“We, the premier league clubs, are going to sit together next week. Super Cup is a popular tournament. We protest this decision. Hopefully both the Super Cup and the Federation Cup will be held.”
Meanwhile, when asked as to why Sheikh Jamal decided to sit out the upcoming Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup, Kader slammed the organisers for their unprofessional approach.
“I was not invited properly. The organisers have no knowledge over how to invite a top club for the tournament. I do not have to impress anyone in order to get something out from football. I have already showed my love for football,” Kader added.
