Kazi Salahuddin, who is the president of both BFF and Saff, recently termed the year 2018 as one of the best years for Bangladesh football. The former national star footballer talked to Dhaka Tribune about the year gone by and his thoughts on the new-year’s plans. Here are the excerpts:
How was 2018?
We kept the national team active throughout the year, played so many tournaments and also hosted some big tournaments, and the national team’s performance was also satisfying. The U-23 team qualified for the Asian Games knockout stage for the first time after beating Qatar. Our young footballers, both boys and girls, also won international trophies and continued their dominance in the region. The year 2018 was fantastic for football.
What are the plans for 2019?
We will continue the same arrangements for different national and youth teams this year too by carrying on national training camps soon after the end of the premier league. We will also host the Bangabandhu Gold Cup at the end of the year, and the event will also get our focus.
The top-flight clubs returned to full swing in training following a short vacation due to Christmas and the national election, after the BFF announced that the Bangladesh Premier League would kick off on January 18 this year.https://t.co/yUNAPfNwZs#BFF #FOOTBALL #BANGLADESH
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) January 3, 2019
What is your take on the upcoming premier league?
I think this year’s premier league will be an exciting competition and very competitive. There will be more quality players, both local and foreigners, this time round. The year 2018 saw an increase in crowds in the gallery, and I hope it would attract more spectators this year as well when the league matches take place in different cities across the country. Most of the games will be held outside the capital. The BFF is trying to telecast at least 100 matches of the league.
The young female footballers will be more involved in the senior side this year. What do you expect?
Our ultimate goal with the women’s team is 2022. What we are doing now with the girls is preparing them for the national team. They will become 20-21 years of age in two-three years’ time, get more matured, and hopefully show their full potential at the senior level.
Thousands of young footballers across the country play in different school and youth tournaments organised by the government each year, but is there enough scouting in place?
We have our own limitations and I take the responsibility. Before any tournaments are organised by the government, say the Bangabandhu and Bangamata school football meets or U-17 Gold Cup, it’s us who provide the complete consultancy. Those tournaments are held with the collaboration of the BFF. We try to pick the talented players from these tournaments. But you can always do more (scouting).
