Restore lost glory of football
There was a day in 1962 when Dhaka Victoria Sporting Club trounced South Korean National Youth team by 5-1 goals in the final match of the Blue-ribbon Aga Khan Gold Cup Football tournament to lift the coveted trophy.
Many soccer experts of that time considered Dacca Victoria Club to be the strongest club side in Asia. But a wrong decision of boycotting the Dhaka Senior Division Football League and the Aga Khan Gold Cup in 1963 ruined the future of the Victoria Club once for all.
Dhaka Mohammedan SC, once power house and the most successful club in the Aga Khan Gold Cup competition are in the grip of mismanagement and unprofessional approach. We fear rise of another Victoria Club in Mohammedan’s tent.
After a long period of about 53 years, several dedicated professionals of Chittagong took the venture to save the country’s football and regain the lost glory. With that target, they introduced the Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup Football tournament last year. There was no doubt about the success of the project as almost every match was held in the jam packed stadium finally won by Chittagong Ahahani Club..
But this year, a mediocre soccer club from South Korea are taking part in the Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup Football tournament underway in Chittagong. The name of the club is Pocheon Citizen FC and they have already reached the last four packing Bangladesh Champions Dhaka Abahani Limited bag and baggage. The early elimination of the Bangladesh champions signals our sorry state in soccer.
We, despite that, hope that the club from Chittagong will bring back our lost glory and inject new soul.
Abdullah Akber
Dhaka
