Sheikh Jamal Club and a dashed dream

I had high hope on Sheikh Jamal Club about their winning the 118th IFA shield cup, but they failed agonizingly short to fulfil that dream. The win was very coveted for our football as its popularity is lying all time low and the success of Sheikh Jamal Club would have revived it to some extent. Unfortunately it did not happen as Sheikh Jamal club lost in a tiebreaker with Kolkata Mohamedan. Dhaka Mohammedan also was beaten in tiebreakers by East Bengal 19 years ago and Sheikh Jamal also experienced the same heart breaking experience.

But we must congratulate the players of Sheikh Jamal as they showed a spirited performance and won the hearts of sports lovers. After a long time Bangladeshi football got some noteworthy attention from the commoners. Once football was the most popular game of our country and football lovers used to throng in the Dhaka stadium to watch first division football matches and now all those days are like a distant dream. Now football is suffering and fails to attract spectators. No one wants to watch a game if the standard of the game is poorer than the international standard. I believe only hard work; dedication and long-term planning can improve the standard which is pathetic to say the least.

Mohammad Sohel Hara

Shajadpur, Dhaka