Tug of War Likely Over Swadhinata Cup

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) looks set for a collision course with Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra over the Swadhinata Cup football tournament.

With the National Sports Council seemingly exiting the scene after initially showing interest, both parties would be kept waiting to get the authority to organise the proposed tournament next month.

"It is in our calendar. So we will organise it in March. We have also talked with the ministry for a number of times in this regard," said Manzoor Hossain Malu, acting general secretary of BFF, which yesterday named an organising committee with Akhter Hossain Khan as chairman and Mozammel Haque Mukta as secretary.

Muktijoddha Sangsad under the auspices of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs organised the first edition of the meet in 2005 in association with the BFF.

"It is our tournament and we are going to hold it. Last year we could not do it because of the lack of a ground," said Muktijoddha football team manager Abdus Sattar.

"We are thinking about bringing foreign teams this time. We have discussed this with the ministry but nothing has been finalised yet," he added.

Sources said that clubs from India and Oman could be invited to join top local clubs.

The trophy is also given by Muktijoddha Sangsad, who kept the title home after beating Brothers Union in the final.