Bangladesh football will take a giant leap forward towards consolidating the development process even further with the installation of an artificial turf at the Bir Shreshta Shahid Sipahi Md. Mostafa Kamal Stadium, Kamalapur at the end of the year.
In a press conference held at the BFF House, Fifa Development Officer Shaji Prabhakaran revealed the details of the project which will provide Bangladesh Football Federation with a full time competent football venue.
Shaji Prabhakaran acknowledged Bangladesh’s endeavor towards developing the game. “Bangladesh‘s effort in developing football is well admired by FIFA and this turf is the outcome of Salahuddin’s request and FIFA looks forward to extending more support in future. The Kamalapur stadium will have a new turf at the end of the year. It would be of international standard with a top quality turf measuring 105 X 68 meters and it would be capable of holding full-fledged international matches. After the completion of the tender process from May to June, I hope the installation process will be over at the end of September,” said Prabhakaran.
“We will also sit with BFF regarding the development works in the grassroots level and in the women’s football. FIFA will be involved with the development process of Bangladesh football actively. The Kamalapur stadium, however, needs refurbishment in the dressing rooms and some other parts,” opined the Fifa official.
Shaji Prabhakaran also handed footballs provided by Fifa. “We have also provided 7000 Adidas football for the development of Bangladesh football. I feel the government of Bangladesh will step up its efforts for the development of football like they supported cricket,” said Prabhakaran.
BFF president Kazi Salahuddin was hopeful of taking football to a new height. “I feel the attitude and the approach of the sports ministry and the NSC regarding the development of football is positive at this moment. We have requested them to make 35 percent of District Sports Association’s money available to District Football Association as per the rule. The ministers and the secretary have shown positive gesture. We have asked the ministry to allocate the district stadium for a particular period so that we can run football. We have also asked for a little amount of money in the national budget. I thank Sepp Blatter for the turf and we have already finalized the deal of a lease of 20 years regarding the venue,” said Salahuddin.
Salahuddin further added that the sports ministry had given BFF assurance of handing over the academy of Sylhet to BFF in July next.
