Future of football in Bangladesh
Bangladesh drew with Himalayan Kingdom Bhutan in the AFC Asian Cup Football 2019 play-off on Tuesday in Dhaka to sound a note of dark future of football in the country. The return match will be held two days later in Punnyakh to decide who sail into the 24-nations continental cup to be held in the UAE, while the losers will miss all the AFC tournaments for next three years. The situation is crucial.
The BFF President Salahuddin wanted to include several African footballers playing in the Bangladesh League in the National team by granting citizenship. Most of the European countries’ football federations are applying this formula to strengthen their national sides. Zinedine Zidane, captain of the 1998 World Cup winning French squad, is an Algerian Muslim. The right wing political parties even did not oppose because to them national interest was above all.
The current Europe Champions Portugal had at least five African players in the squad. The 2014 Germany’s World Cup squad picked up three oversees players. The present French squad comprises a number pf hired players. All these are lawful. If a foreigner lives in a country for several years, he can be given citizenship.
Then why should not Bangladesh do? If the BFF wants to save our football, it must grant citizenship to at least five African footballers.
Abdullah Akber
Dhaka
