DMFLC promises regular leagues

Even though the Bangladesh Football Federation has kept football rolling at the top level during the last two tenures of Kazi Salahuddin-led committee, football at lower levels in Dhaka has suffered due to irregularity of the leagues.

Over the last eight years, the Dhaka Metropolis Football League Committee has arranged only four editions of the first division, three editions of the second division and four editions of the third division.

However, the BFF seems to be embarking on a new journey as the DMFLC yesterday signed a four-year deal with Saif PowerTec to run the three lower leagues in Dhaka.

The committee, led by Harunur Rashid, promised to hold all three leagues every calendar year to produce players for top-level competitions.

“I believe 48 clubs of the three leagues are the backbone of the country's football as you have been producing footballers from grassroots level. I want to request you to sign players for long-term and sell them to premier league and championship league clubs. I also want to request you all to obey the by-laws of the leagues,” Salahuddin said after inaugurating a renovated DMFLC office at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

“I had been with the DMFLC since its start and after 37-38 years I have been given the same duty again. I want to ensure that the clubs playing different leagues under this committee will produce new players for the national team and club teams of Bangladesh Premier League and Bangladesh Championship League,” said Rashid.  

Asked whether the DMFLC can hold all three leagues every year, Rashid said: “Morning shows the day. The leagues had been inconsistent in recent years but I want to regularise them with the help of the clubs.”

Sponsors Saif PowerTec's managing director Tarafder Ruhul Amin said that they would provide the actual expenditure that the DMFLC spends for the three leagues.

He, however, warned that they would withdraw their sponsorship if they find any irregularities such as violation of by-laws or allegations of match-fixing.

The newly-formed committee will begin work by holding the Second Division Football League from January 11 where 12 teams will be taking part.