Bangladesh needs to follow Brazil to develop its soccer skills

Iftu AhmedbrFootball (soccer), the world's most popular sport, is getting even more popular around the world. World Cup, Olympic Games, European Cup, African Cup, Asian Cup, Women's World Cup and the recently introduce World Deaf Football Championships for Men's and Women's etc. are the prestigious international football events.brIn 1937, the formidable Islington Corinthians a football team of England toured the then East Bengal now Bangladesh. It played an exhibition match against Dhaka XI and was defeated 0-1. Pakhi Sen of Mymensingh scored that historic goal. It was a memorable event that gave a boost football in Bangladesh.brThe Federation International de Football Association (FIFA) is known as the international governing body of association football. Among 199 FIFA members, Bangladesh got the highest ranking of 110th in April, 1996, and the lowest ranking of 183th on June, 2008. So, it has to focus to develop its football. brOn July 15, 1972, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) was formed headed by Prof. Md. Yousef Ali, the then Minister of Sports and Culture with a 25-member of ad hoc executive committee.brAn executive committee of BFF was elected for the first time this year for the 2008-2012 term. Kazi Salauddin, a renowned footballer of the country is the first elected President of BFF. brFutsal, an indoor version of association football committee and women's football committee besides other committees were elected. brThe development of football means its development in its entirety. In the wake of World Deaf Football Championships for Men and Women taking place recently the BFF should constitute its Deaf Football Committee for its potential. brBangladesh Deaf Sports Association is an affiliated association of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. It is just like the Bangladesh Women's Sports Association. brThe more we play, the more we grow is the philosophy for all sports. The BFF has a number of competitions including the National League, Federation Cup, Premier League and Sher-e-Bangla Cup National Football Championship. The BFF needs to restore Aga Khan Gold Cup to boost our football. Victory Day and Independence Day Football for all ages can play positive roles. brDevelopment of football intent of our youths should be the prime mission of BFF. Football schools or academies around the globe, voluntary, semi professional and professional, are playing a role in developing youth football. Behind Brazil's success its football academies subsidised by the government play a big role. Bangladesh can take similar steps.brFootball academies can provide coaching and training to all school age boys and girls. They can operate training courses, workshops and seminars for football coaches, school sports teachers and football volunteers. brThe football academies develop the skills of young footballers through round the year training and soccer education. Competitive football leagues would help achieve high level of skills, tactics and physical fitness. The BFF can set up football academies around the country to get more and more budding footballers. brThe school authorities can launch intramural football and annual inter school football on the national basis. brFootball at the college and university level needs dynamism. Inter-college and inter-university football tournaments should not be neglected anymore.brThe Futsal Committee of BFF's Standing Committee needs to create awareness for organising indoor football leagues around the country on artificial turfs for Bangladeshi footballers so that they can stay tuned during winter and off seasons. brFootball is a fluid game where a midfielder can be a forward for five or ten minutes and then return to his or her original position. Similarly, a forward can come back to defend. brThere is no ultimate football formation. The best formation of a football team depends on the abilities of its players. brA goalkeeper normally remains within the penalty box and is not included in football formation.brThe football formation can be either offensive or defensive. The score of the game often determines the formation. brA team that is ahead will probably form on defence and the team which is behind will focus on offence. Formation can be changed on the special abilities of a star player of a team or the weaknesses of opposition side. brA 4-2-4 formation means 4 forwards, 2 midfielders and 4 defenders. It is the one of the most attacking football formations in modern era. Football legend Pele of Brazil played in this formation in the 1958 World Cup, when he was 17, and Brazil won the Cup.brThe main strength of 4-4-2 is its defence-midfield interaction. Using this formation England secured its only World Cup in 1966. Today many teams play their own version of this tactics.brThe 4-3-3 formation, innovated by developing 4-2-4 formation, was played by the Brazilian national team in the 1962 World Cup. Brazil won the cup. brMany North American Soccer League Teams use this formation. brPlaying the 3-5-2 formation Argentina won the 1986 and Brazil the 2002 World Cup.brThe Dutch are credited for inventing in 1970 'total football'. Total football demands physical strength and high level of technical power because each footballer in this system must adapt to the situation. brAnyone can be an attacker, anyone defender in this system. brIn 1974 World Cup, the Dutch playing total football, beat both Brazil and Argentina in the second group to reach the final for the first time. brUnfortunately, they lost in the final to the then West Germany 0-1. brBangladesh might use their own version of total football. A country can buy all of soccer gear but cannot buy physical endurance, breathe and tactics for a 90-minute game. These can be achieved by continuous practice, training and competitive football. brThe writer can be reached at bre-mail iftuahmed@sbcglobal.net