Five expatriate footballers to arrive before SAFF

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has taken a big plan to further strengthen the Bangladesh Football team ahead of the upcoming SAFF Championship.

The BFF is working with the aim of including at least five new expatriate footballers in the team before the start of the tournament.

The possible list includes UK-based winger Farhan Ali Wahid, forward Zayan Hakeem and three other footballers. However, the Head Coach of Bangladesh Football team Thomas Dooley will ultimately decide who will wear the Bangladesh Football team’s jersey.

BFF Vice-President Fahad Karim said they are optimistic about getting Farhan Ali Wahid, who played in the pre-season friendly match for Fulham, into the team before SAFF. The process of getting a Bangladeshi passport will begin after his biometrics are completed.

Farhan’s father and agent have already been requested to prepare keeping in mind to join the Bangladesh Football team’s camp for SAFF Championship in September.

On the other hand, the work of including UK-based forward Zayan Hakeem in the Bangladesh Football team is also progressing rapidly.

Despite playing two international matches for Antigua and Barbuda, the BFF sees no difficulty in getting FIFA’s permission to play for Bangladesh.

Fahad Karim said informal positive signals have been received from FIFA and AFC in this regard. The formal paperwork process will be begun.

Although it is generally said that this process can take about two months, the BFF officials hope that everything will be completed within 45 days.