The Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium was full of unprecedented euphoria yesterday as the stars of the 1970s, 80s and 90s forgot their age and took the pitch with the sticks that made them famous.
The Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) organised the match on the occasion of Victory Day and it was supposed to be attended by the visiting International Hockey Federation (FIH) president Leandro Negre. However, due to severe traffic congestion the FIH president could not make it.
BHF XI defeated BHF President’s XI 6-4.
The two teams comprised of BHF joint secretaries Yusuf Ali and Anvir Adil, general secretary Khaja Rahmatullah and former players Ehsan Nammi, Kismat, national awardees Bashir Ahmed and Hossain Imam Chowdhury Shanta, Bayezid, Jummon Lusai, Mahbub Harun, Anwar, Ehsan Rana, Abu Jafar Tapan, Alamgir Alam, Jamil Parvez Lulu, Mamunur Rashid, Fazlu, Monowar and a few others.
Bashir, who was equally competent in football and hockey, thinks the initiative should be taken every year. “We have a tradition in hockey. The presence of these players bridge the past with the present. It should be continued.”
