Bangladesh Football sees hope of golden days

City life pattern of people of capital Dhaka has become motorized almost. Due to various work pressure and automation of life, the Dhaka people hardly move to the stadium to watch live football match.

 

As a result, the 20,000 seats of Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka remain idle all the year round. The galleries of the stadium become draught of audience and football fans. The stadium looks desert with a small number of audiences.

 

The fans and supporters are main part of sport. The scenario of desert has been visible during past a decade. Just this moment Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has able to organize three matches outside Dhaka during past a couple of month.

 

The huge rush of audience in the stadium galleries shows that the demand of football yet to fade away. The future of football of is still bright.

 

In last September the Nepalese national team was invited in Bangladesh for participating practice and friendly matches for the upcoming Asian Games. The Under-23 team of Bangladesh faced Nepal at Army Stadium in Dhaka. More than 5,500 viewers attended in the stadium to enjoy the match.  In the match Bangladesh Under -23 team was won by 1-0 goals. Bangladesh team got much support of host in the match.

 

The second match against Nepal was held at Sylhet. Before a week of the match, massive enthusiasm was created in Sylhet over holding the match.

 

Enormous interest was noticed among the common people along with the football fans. Aiming the match all tickets were sold rapidly. After starting the match more than 50,000 viewers entered the stadium premises forcibly. They however, broke the main entrance of the stadium.

 

The audience however, enjoyed the match by standing beside the side line without making any glitch. After end of the match, coach of Nepal commented, ‘It could not be possible in their country to hold the match such fairly. Their audience could not enjoy the match so nicely. The football fans of Bangladesh are smart and modest.’

 

After holding the matches, Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) had decided to organize two more matches outside Dhaka. Two friendly matches were organized with Sri Lanka national Team.

 

The match was selected to be held at historical district Jessore. Aiming the match, a festive look situation was prevailed in Jessore. Two days ahead of the holding the match, all tickets were sold. It was alleged that fake tickets were also sold due to massive demand of tickets.

 

A person was arrested on charge of selling fake ticket. The Shams-Ul-Huda Stadium had 12,000 audience capacities while it became crowded public place on the eve. It is reported that more than 30,000 viewers could able to enjoy the match.

 

As like as Sylhet, huge number of people also entered forcibly into the stadium premises by breaking open the main entrance. On the same time, they enjoyed the match, standing the sideline inside the stadium. Many people tried to watch the match using tables, ‘Moi’ and other high materials. Audience and viewers were seen on the top branch of trees, water tank, and roof top of high rise buildings. Those who could not enter into the stadium were roamed around the stadium.

 

Rajshahi was next to Jessore. Despite limited publicity the rush of audience was tremendous in Rajshahi venue. More than 30,000 viewers viewed the match while its capacity was 22,000.

 

They chanted slogans saying Bangladesh and Bangladesh around the stadium. The same scenario was visible in Sylhet, Dhaka, Jessore and Rajshahi. It was unbelievable if not seen.

 

The demand of football outside the Dhaka is still remaining. The rush of audience proved this. It is possible to return the lost fame of Bangladesh Football by proper patronization and implementing some certain planning. The golden age of football should be returned if the dynamic management wants to improve football. We like to see this again.

 

risingbd/ Dhaka/ October 29, 2014/ Aminul/ Shontosh/ Humayun Kabir