Bangladesh Football Federation’s endeavour of expanding the game across the country in the grass-roots sees light for the second time as the Islami bank National School Football kicks off with Khulna Division phase on Wednesday.
The first phase of the tournament will be played in the upazilla level and as per the data of the BFF 5400 schools, at least 10 from each 540 upazillas of the country, will be playing in the tournament. The upazilla level will be played on knock-out basis and the champions will move to the district level. The district level champions will then proceed to the divisional stage from where the champions will play in the national/final round. The phases, apart from the upazilla levels, will be played on league basis.
Islami Bank is sponsoring the event for the second time and will be providing a purse of Tk40m. The champions will receive a purse of Tk1m while the runners-up will get Tk500000. The meet is expected to conclude in March next. A total of 5025 schools across the country participated in the last edition held in 2011-12 season.
In press conference held at the BFF House on Sunday, BFF senior vice president Abdus Salam Murshedy and senior assistant secretary of the Education Ministry Abu Kaisar Khan presented the event to the press. BFF general secretary Abu Naeem Shohag, former footballers Iliyas Hossian, Kazi Jashimuddin Ahmed Joshi and organiser Abu Hossian Prince were also present on the occasion.
