Football should be revived in 2019

Football is one of the most popular sports in the country. It is still played in the rural and urban areas by children and teenagers in almost all seasons.

In the 1980s and 1990s, football was the most popular sport in Bangladesh. People from far and near used to mill into Dhaka stadium to watch first division football league. Players like Salahuddin, Badal, Chunnu, Emily, Mohsin, Kaiser Hamid and Munna had great following. Now I am sure that most Bangladeshis do not know the football players of the country. Bangladesh had won SAFF football championship in 2002. Around that time, Bangladesh was a renowned football power in South Asia. But now the country's footballing prowess is much lower.

We need to do something about it so that the lost glory of football in the country can be regained. I believe that, like cricket, Bangladesh has great potential in football. I hope that Bangladesh Football Federation will take some steps this year so that football can gradually revive its glory days.

Mohammed Sohel Hara

Banasree, Dhaka

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