Pioneer teams awarded at last

Champions and runner-ups of the Dhaka City Corporation (North & South) Pioneer Football League after around six months have finally received their deserving prize money from the Bangladesh Football Federation yesterday. The BFF, however, has selected 100 players from the meet and is planning to arrange a month-long camp for them. "We chose 100 players from pioneer football league and we will begin a month-long training camp with them in two weeks. We are also thinking to hold a Super Cup with the top 20 teams. We are looking for sponsors as well as funds to hold the meet. That would be an additional program," said BFF vice president and pioneer league committee chairman Arif Khan Joy at the prize giving ceremony at BFF House today. Joy also assured that the next edition of the pioneer league will begin in time and they plan to intake the best 100 booters in BFF Football Academy in Sylhet. The league in 2012 started on October 9 and ended with the final between Khilgaon Football Academy and Matuiyal Udayan Sangsad on December 19. Khilgaon Football Academy clinched the title of the meet beating Matuail Udayan Sangsad by 5-3 goals in the penalty shootout at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. A total of 81 teams took part in the meet held across 10 different venues around the capital. Joy also explained why they were late to give away the prize money. "We had a financial problem which delayed the prize giving ceremony." The champions received Tk100,000 while the runner-ups received Tk50,000. Three teams - champions Khilgaon, Matuiyal Udayan and Nasrin Football Academy - were promoted to the third division.