SPORTS EDGE

Football
BOA now ally of BFF
Sports Reporter
B. League committee chairman and BFF senior vice-president Abdus Salam Murshedi (2nd from right) conducts the draw for the Federation Cup qualifying rounds at the BFF Bhaban yesterday. Photo: STAR
Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) has promised to support Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) future programmes, high officials of the two organisations confirmed yesterday.

BOA secretary Kutubuddin Ahmed, who accepted BFF's invitation along with his colleagues, said after the meeting at BFF Bhaban that he has assured to extend BOA's helping hands towards the football governing body and continue it.

"We have now learned about the BFF's future programmes and we will do everything possible to help them implement these," Kutub told reporters.

The first mission of the two sporting bodies would be bridge the gap between DSAs (District Sports Associations) and the newly formed FAs (Football Associations) and BFF president Kazi Salahuddin hoped that the problem would be solved within a month.

"We hope to work together and put an end to the distance that has been created the district sports organisations in a bid to start football in the districts," said Salahuddin.

"The BOA and BFF will sit to discuss the issue and solve it soon so we can start football in the districts by October. It is also essential for the organisers' existence. The new leadership in the districts now must work together. We want to act as the mediator," commented Kutub adding that a few solutions were suggested in yesterday's meeting.

Although the BFF president Salahuddin and BOA's chief operating officer Col (retd) Wali Ullah had been engaged in a verbal war before the BFF polls, Kutub said that they have already put behind the bitterness.

"Past is past and one has to take sides during elections if he is concerned. But there is no hard feelings now," said the BOA secretary general adding that he would like Bangladesh to regain the SA Games gold medal in football.

"Football will be the centre of attraction during the Games next year and we will give all our support but I demand that as hosts, we win the football gold."

The BOA chief executive also informed that he prefers handing over the total fund that will come from the government for the Games, for football to the BFF so it can arrange the preparation.

Salahuddin said that he would like to start camp from November under foreign coach and trainer but Kutub said they would try to start all remaining camps from October.

Bangladesh won their only gold medal of the regional sporting extravaganza during the 1999 SAF Games in Kathmandu. It was also the last time that national teams took part in the football competition. After the under-23 teams were introduced, Bangladesh have failed to make the semifinals twice, in Islamabad in 2004 and in Colombo in 2006.