FIFA World Cup 2018 and Bangladesh

FIFA World Cup 2018 is just a couple of days away. Already we can see football frenzy all around us. For the next one month, newspapers, TV, and social media will be full of football stories and fantasies. But if we look at our football we feel utterly frustrated as we are nowhere near the international standard. I know many Bangladeshi football fans will visit Russia during this World Cup and watch the matches live there whereas we see a lack of interest in local football among the sports-lovers. Football was the most popular game in our country during the 80s. It was a totally different scenario then when spectators used to crowd around Dhaka Stadium to watch Abahani-Mohammedan clash. Newspapers used to publish special reports on the match. Unfortunately local football has lost that flair. Due to our consistently poor performance, football in Bangladesh has also lost its magic. I hope this world cup tournament will rekindle the old passion and enthusiasm in our national football.

Mohammed Sohel Hara

Bonosree, Dhaka

[email protected]