The return of the Asia Cup after 30 years may accelerate disappointing hockey in the country. Since tournament favourites India, Japan and Pakistan are the rivals at the group stage, it will be very difficult for Bangladesh to sail into the knockout stage. If that is not possible, neck to neck fight will be welcome by all the hockey fans.
Hockey was once a very popular game next to soccer. But management crisis, lack of patronization, conflict with the hockey federation and irregular holding of hockey league and other tournaments have hindered the progress. The other group comprises China, Malaysia, Oman and South Korea.
In 1985, the final match between India and Pakistan was held in the jam-packed Dhaka Stadium, with equal number of spectators waiting outside for the result.
The tournament will begin in October.
Abdullah Akber
Dhaka
Neymar paid for freedom
Neymar purchased his right to select his own destination on payment of world record 222 million Euro to Barcelona. The Barcelona officials might have censured him as surrender to currency, but soccer experts contrarily have welcomed the decision calling it a right moment as there are already five Brazilians in his new club Paris Saint Germain.
Brazil’s coach Tite has said that the six Brazilians in a leading European club will strengthen the nation’s coming World Cup hope to be held in Moscow in 2018, but for that we have to see how does Neymar adjust with his new club, new environment.
In this regard, I am constrained to say that Brazil produced many amazing footballers like Pele, Didi, Coutinho, Vava, Amarildo, Alberto, Jairzinho, Rivelino and Garrincha, in the past who never played in the European League, but earned three world titles for the nation. Now we wait to watch Neymar’s excellence for Paris Saint Germain.
Peter Rozario
Dhaka
