Mamunul Islam, the most capped footballer of the current national men's football team and the former captain, urged the Bangladesh Football Federation and respective clubs to support the less-privileged footballers who are struggling to survive due to lockdown situation caused by Covid-19 pandemic.
“There are many players who bear the expenses of their family with low income from football and some even by playing khep (a colloquial term of playing on hire in different local tournaments). But all games are suspended now.”
“If the league is postponed for even two months, it would be huge loss for them. The BFF and the clubs should find out those players and show them their supports so that they survive this difficult time.” Mamunul told to Dhaka Tribune over phone.
The government has suspended all kinds of sporting activities since March 16. The Bangladesh Premier League and all local football leagues are also postponed for indefinite time since then. The growing Covid-19 cases give no hints that the situation may get normal in next two months.
Many national footballers came up with aids to their capacity to support the less-privileged people in their respective localities including national women’s team captain Sabina Khatun who distributed foodstuffs to 70 vulnerable families in Satkhira on Saturday.
The contributions of Mamunul has been going through quite silently as the midfielder, after several phone calls, informed that he too had distributed foodstuffs to 175 families in Chattogram last week. Among those there were few local footballers of Chattogram league who has been struggling to earn daily meals.
“I’m looking for more struggling footballers so that we can help them because most of the footballers in our country are hailed from low-earned families,” said the Abahani Limited midfielder who is currently quarantined with the family members including his 16-month old son Mohaiminul Islam Azlan in Kadamtali area of the port city.
Ariful Islam, a former national footballer currently playing for Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, echoed the same sentient regarding the uncertainty of low-earned footballers.
“Football's stakeholders should take notice of those needy players. I have been playing since 2005 and from my experience I know how difficult it is financially for local footballers when there is no game.” said Arif who also sought support for those vulnerable footballers through social media last week.
