Football circles in Bangladesh are currently heated after Italy-based footballer Fahamedul Islam was initially called to the national team’s preliminary camp but was later dropped. This decision has led to significant discontent among football fans.
Fahamedul Islam, who plays for Italian fourth division club Olbia Calcio, was also part of the national team’s one-week conditioning camp in Saudi Arabia. However, head coach Javier Cabrera decided to exclude him from the squad while they were in Saudi Arabia. The coach and the remaining 27 players returned to Dhaka on Tuesday morning. Fahamedul, on the other hand, took a flight to Italy directly from Saudi Arabia.
Initially, 30 footballers were called up for the preliminary camp by coach Cabrera. Hamza Chowdhury reported to the team hotel on Tuesday night. Amidst these developments, the news of Fahamedul’s exclusion became a major talking point.
Coach Cabrera needs to finalize a 23-member squad, which means seven players will have to be বাদ. Fahamedul was the first player to be dropped from the list. This decision to বাদ an expatriate player playing in Italy has angered many football enthusiasts in Bangladesh.
On Tuesday, before Iftar, a group of fans gathered in front of the Bangladesh Football Federation (BAFUFE) building in Motijheel. They protested against what they believe is the control of a syndicate over Bangladeshi football. The protesters chanted slogans demanding the dismantling of this syndicate. They also directed their anger towards coach Cabrera and his coaching staff. Some former footballers who had previously criticized the inclusion of expatriate players were also targeted by the protesters’ slogans.
As the Maghrib prayer time approached, the demonstrators broke their fast by having Iftar right there. After Iftar, the supporters moved to the main road in Motijheel and continued their protest with various slogans. They alleged that a syndicate is leading the country’s football towards destruction.
Following this uproar, the Youth and Sports Advisor, Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, has called BAFUFE President Kazi Salahuddin for a discussion on Wednesday (March 19). The Ministry of Youth and Sports confirmed this development on Tuesday night.
Coach Cabrera explained his decision to leave out Fahamedul, stating that while Fahamedul is a talented player, he needs more time to meet the team’s expectations, particularly for the winger position he was assigned. He clarified that Fahamedul did not come to Dhaka and was with the team in Saudi Arabia for a week.
This incident highlights the passionate sentiments of Bangladeshi football fans and their concerns about the selection process and the overall state of football in the country. The meeting between the Youth and Sports Advisor and the BAFUFE President is expected to address these concerns and potentially shed more light on the situation.