Sabbir Hossain :
The football clubs based in Motijheel, which is the largest commercial and financial hub in Dhaka, have long been grappling with financial crises and a lack of proper ground facilities.
Most of these clubs, which participate in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football, do not own their own grounds.
The norms of professional football leagues worldwide, which expect clubs to have their own grounds, sharply contrast with this situation.
In a recent interview conducted on Tuesday, several officials from clubs expressed their concerns.
Anwar Hossain, President of Fakirerpool Young Men’s Club, stated, “We do not have our own ground. Our football squad practices on rented grounds.
Despite this, we emerged as champions in the Bangladesh Champions League (BCL) Football 2023/2024, and our players are now preparing for the BPL Football 2024/2025 season.
While our immediate goal is to establish ourselves in BPL , we understand the importance of having our own grounds in the long run.”
President Anwar Hossain further elaborated, “Since we do not have our own ground, we have leased Dhupkhola Math in Gendaria, located within the capital, to meet our needs.
Our primary aim is to maintain our presence in the upcoming football tournaments.
To support our club financially, we utilise our assets, including 10 shops, 10 rooms, and an auditorium.
However, the income generated from these rentals, along with donations from our members, is insufficient to cover our operational expenses.
We also receive limited financial aid from the National Sports Council (NCL), which adds to the challenges we face in sustaining our club.”
Md. Kamal Hossain, General Secretary of the Dhaka Wanderers Club, emphasised, “Our primary sources of income are the donations from our members and support from sponsors. We also generate revenue from the rental income of 15 shops.
Despite becoming runners-up in the BCL 2023/2024 season and qualifying for the BPL 2024/2025, our lack of a dedicated practice ground in the capital forces us to bear substantial expenses.”
He continued, “Our immediate goal is to maintain our position in the BPL Football League.” Our donors and sponsors currently provide inadequate support.
Additionally, indoor games such as ‘One-Ten’ and card games supplement our earnings. Should we succeed in securing our place in the BPL, our aspiration is to advance further and achieve significant success in domestic football competitions.”
Imtiaz Sultan Jonny, Convener of the Technical Committee at Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited, emphasised, “Our primary source of revenue is sponsor donations.
While we didn’t secure any championship titles this year, we achieved runners-up positions in the BPL Football, Independence Cup, and Federation Cup.
Our goal for the upcoming BPL Football 2024/2025 season is to clinch the championship title.”
He continued, “Unfortunately, we do not possess our own ground.
The President of our club, General Md. Abdul Mubeen, who is also the Chairman and Nominated Director of United Group, along with Engineer Ghulam Mohammad Alamgir, Chairman of the Football Committee of Mohammedan and MAX Group, have generously supported our football team in domestic competitions.
Our club president has facilitated the use of the United University Grounds in the capital for our squad’s practice sessions.
Additionally, our players have trained at the BUET Ground, although these arrangements incur significant expenses. While we have a small ground at our club, it is inadequate for our players to practice effectively.”
“Most clubs participating in BPL football lack sufficient grounds. Only Bashundhara Kings and Dhaka Abahani Limited possess grounds that meet the required standards.
If the Bangladesh Football Federation intends to truly professionalise the BPL, it must ensure adequate grounds are available for all participating clubs,” he added.
Imtiaz Sultan Jonny highlighted the challenges faced by Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited and underscored the importance of improving infrastructure to enhance the competitiveness and professionalism of Bangladeshi football.