The Bangladesh Football Federation accorded a reception to members of the Swadhin Bangla Football Team at BFF House in Dhaka Thursday.
BFF president Kazi Salahuddin, one of the key playing members of the historic team, was accompanied by his old team members, along with the then team manager Tanveer Mazhar Islam Tanna.
Sheikh Ashraf Ali, Subash Chandra Saha, Mohammad Sheikh Taslim Uddin, Abdus Sattar, Abdul Hakim, Biren Das Biru and Mohammad Mozammel Haq were given the reception as Swadhin Bangla Team members, along with organisers Saidur Rahman Patel, Moeen Sinha, AFM Badiuzzaman Khashru and Abul Kashem.
The last time the football federation provided a reception to Swadhin Bangla Football Team was during the first tenure of Salahuddin as BFF boss on January 4, 2009, setting a plaque at the entrance of the BFF building with the names of 36 members, including the former manager and coach, the late Nani Bashak.
“In the month of victory, we wanted to give a reception to those who contributed to the liberation war through football, and introduce them to the new generation,” said Salahuddin, before remembering a scoop of their times in Bombay (Mumbai) during their historic tour across India to play exhibition matches where they also raised funds for the liberation war.
Salahuddin said, “Many people are missing here. It’s been a long 47 years. Many (Swadhin Bangla Team members) passed away, some became ill and some of us are still alive while a few remain with football. It’s a great pleasure to see the rest of us after many years.”
Both Salahuddin and Tanha recalled how the historic March 7 speech of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman inspired, moved and prepared them prior to the liberation war.
Tanha remembered how a cricketer but a football enthusiast became the SBFT manager being a Dhaka University student and a young group’s journey to Balurghat and then to Bihar, Mumbai, Maharashtra and West Bengal.
Reminding the poor state of physical and financial condition of many of the Swadhin Bangla Team members, Tanha concluded by saying, “A major appeal to everyone. Many left us. It’s been 47 years, but the team and the players are not recognised yet. We want recognition.”
