BFF to Appeal AFC Fine

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) will appeal against the fine (US dollars 4,000) imposed on it by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for fielding over aged players during last year's AFC Under-16 Championship qualifiers.

"We had sent the MRI reports of the team members to the AFC and it confirmed there was not a single overaged player then," informed BFF acting general secretary Manzoor Hossain Malu yesterday.

"So if there is any problem, it must be with the reports, not with the federation," he said adding that the BFF will appeal to the Asian football body to consider its decision.

Bangladesh Fined $4,000

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) disciplinary committee imposed a fine of US dollars 4,000 on Bangladesh for fielding over aged players in last year's qualifying rounds of the AFC U-16 Championship.

An AFC media release confirmed that Bhutan, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan and Macau were also guilty of infringing the regulations and were also fined the same penalty.

However, there was bad news for North Korea, Tajikistan and Iraq who have been disqualified from the final rounds and fined also for fielding ineligible players.

The AFC had conducted Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) tests during the AFC U-16 Championship qualifiers and the disciplinary committee consulted an expert medical witness on the issue of MRI before coming to a decision on all the cases.

AFC will shortly announce the list of finalists for the finals, which will be hosted by Uzbekistan from October 4-19 this year.

Indo-Bangla Games Football Fixtures Announced

The football fixtures for the Indo-Bangla Games 2008 are as follows:

Mens:
23-02-08: Bangladesh v India, BNS (4:30pm)
24-02-08: Bangladesh v India, Norshindi Stadium (3:00pm)
25-02-08: Bangladesh v India, BNS (5:30pm)

Womens:
23-02-08: Bangladesh v India, Norshindi Stadium (3:00pm)
24-02-08: Bangladesh v India, Narayanganj Stadium (3:00pm)
25-02-08: Bangladesh v India, BNS (3:00pm)

BFF Names Squad for Bangla Games

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has named a 20-member squad for the Bangladesh team which will play West Bengal in next months' 2nd Indo-Bangladesh Bangla Games in Dhaka.

The Under-19 teams of both sides will vie for gold in the football competition of the five-day Games starting on February 25.

The booters have been requested to report to coach Hasanuzzaman Babloo at BKSP tomorrow at 11am.

Bangladesh U-19 squad to play West Bengal U-19:

Goalkeepers: Ziaur Rahman (Russel), Nehal (Badda)

Defenders: Mostak (Wari), Rajib (Farashganj), Russell (Badda), Mishu (Russel), Ali Hossain, Arup, Liton (Farashganj), Ariful (Mohammedan)

Midfielders: Nasir (Badda), Sharif, Zahid (Mohammedan), Zahed Parvez (Abahani), Rony Islam, Robin (Farashganj)

Forwards: Mithun (Victoria), Mobarak (Wari), Jitu (Chittagong Abahani) and Rana (Badda)

U-16s Leave for India Today

The under-16 football team will tour India this month to attend a coaching camp from today till January 26 at the Tata Academy in Jamshedpur.

The Bangladesh team, which played in the AFC Youth Championship qualifiers in United Arab Emirates last October, have been picked for the trip.

All the 20 footballers have been asked to report to coach Jobair Nipu, who will accompany the team, at 12 noon today at the Bangladesh Football Federation office.

The Bangladesh Olympic Association has been organising the trip in invitation of the Tata Academy.

TEAM: Nurul Karim, Kamal Hossain, Shahidul Alam, Saidur Rahman, Mamun Hossain, Amjad Hossain, Rashed Khan, Naimur Rahman, Ariful Haque, Saifuddin, Salahuddin Ahmed, Saddam Hossain, Jamal Hossain, Rana Mia, Habibur Rahman, Mohammed Sohel, Arif Hossain, Limon Chowdhury, Jewel Hossain and Shakil Alam.

No Place For Alfaz

Alfaz Ahmed's return from retirement was short-lived as the veteran striker was dropped from the national team's preparatory camp for two tournaments this year and the World Cup pre-qualifiers.

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) yesterday called 33 footballers to join camp for this October's World Cup home and away pre-qualifiers against Tajikistan, the Grand Royal Cup in Myanmar where the Under-23 team will participate in November and the SAFF Championship in December.

Alfaz, who had announced his retirement from international football after the Asia Cup qualifiers in 2006, joined the camp for the Nehru Cup - which concluded in India last month - when he was picked by new coach Syed Nayeemuddin.

Alfaz, the fulcrum of the country's SAF Games (1999) and SAFF Championship (2003) winning teams, did not get a chance in the starting line-up of the first two games in the Nehru Cup in New Delhi but got back into the first eleven in the latter matches after the Bangladesh striking duo failed to deliver the goods.

Bangladesh scored just one goal in four matches and Indian coach Nayeemuddin, whose vacation has yet to be ended, kept his first choice striking pair of Emily and Robin in addition of Moni and rookie Rony Islam.

The BFF finalised the team after yesterday's teleconference among its acting general secretary Manzoor Hossain Malu, Hasanuzzaman Babloo who was coach of the Merdeka Cup side, assistant coach Golam Jilani and Nayeemuddin, who is now in Kolkata to obtain visa to return to Bangladesh.

"We discussed for a long time and Nayeemuddin took reports of the Merdeka Cup before finalising the list," said Malu yesterday.

The team will leave Dhaka tomorrow for Cox's Bazar to have a monthlong residential camp in the tourist resort.

"We are sending three coaches and a physio with the team, which will stay at the Diamond Rest House. It is very close to the Cox's Bazar Stadium where the team will train for one month," informed Malu.

The general secretary of Cox's Bazar DSA will co-ordinate the camp, to be run by Nayeem, Babloo and Jilani.

Although the squad include 33 members, goalkeeper Aminul Haque, who missed an entire season due to injury, will join unofficially.

"No doubt he is the number one goalkeeper of the country but Nayeem was reluctant as he did not see him play throughout the season. However, as the general secretary of the federation, I have used my power to take him to the camp," added Malu.

Aminul has recovered from injury and has been training for long.

Although press reports suggested that Sujan, country's top defender, was on the verge of his return to the national team, it was learned that his recovery from injury was not good enough for him to play even humbly for half an hour.

Muktijoddha's holding midfiel-der Maruf and Badda Jagarani midfielder Nasir are the new inclusions while Mohammed Rony, Akram, GM Mamun, Mamun Khan and Liton were ignored after not playing in the Nehru Cup or the Merdeka Cup.

The other noted omission was former international Parvez Babu while impressive rightback Ibnul Siraji once again failed to win the heart of the coaching panel despite Bangladesh showed incompetence at the right side of the backline in the Nehru Cup.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Biplab Bhattachariya, Ziaur Rahman Zia, MN Shakil, Mazharul Islam Himel.

Defenders: Hassan Al Mamun, Feroz Mahmud Titu, Atiqur Rahman Mishu, Rajani Kanta Barman, Nazrul Islam, Ariful Islam, Mahmudul Hassan, Jahirul Islam, Amit Khan Shuvra, Mofazzal Hossain Saikat, SM Rajib, Arafat Rony, Arup Baidya, Wali Faisal.

Midfielders: Mehdi Hassan Ujjal, Arman Aziz, Abul Hossain, Zahid Hossain, Zahed Parvez, Matiur Munna, Jumratul Islam Mithu, Mamunul Islam, Enamul Haque Sharif, Nasirul Islam Nasir, Maruf Ahmed.

Forwards: Mohammed Robin, Zahid Hassan Emily, Rony Islam, Saifur Rahman Moni.

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U-23s To Play in Grand Royal Challenge Cup

Bangladesh will take part in the third Grand Royal Challenge Cup to be held in Myanmar from November 1.

The Under-23 booters will represent Bangladesh in the tournament, said Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) acting general secretary Manjur Hossain Malu.

He mentioned that a letter from the BFF confirming Bangladesh's participation in the tournament would be sent later on Tuesday night to the Myanmar Football Federation.

“We will pick a preliminary squad in the first week of September after the return of national coach Syed Nayeemuddin, who is now vacationing in India,” Malu said.

Earlier on August 18, the Myanmar Football Federation (MFF) invited BFF to participate in the tournament.

The MFF also invited four other countries - Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam - to take part in the tourney.

In 2005, Bangladesh finished runners-up in the same tournament.

National U-16 Trials Coming Up

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has called an open trial for selection of the under-16 national football team. The trial will be held at the Brothers Union ground in Gopibagh on July 13 and 14 under BFF's age-group coaches.

Interested footballers, born after January 1, 1992, have been asked to report at the ground at 8am with two copies of passport size photographs.

The Bangladesh U-16s will play in the AFC Youth Championship qualifiers to be played in Dubai this October.

Bangladesh Win Fair Play Trophy

Bangladesh won the "Best Fair Play Team" trophy in the Danone Nations Cup 2007 which concluded in Lyon, France on Sunday.

The under 13 boys from Chittagong, who made the Bangladesh team, also clinched 23rd place among 40 participating nations. They finished above the likes of Brazil, the Netherlands, Italy and Germany.

South Africa lifted the title defeating hosts France. French legend and World Cup winner Zinedine Zidane handed over the champions' trophy after the final.

The Bangladesh kids, who played a total of eight matches, will return home today.

Bangladesh Youngsters Finish 23rd

Bangladesh finished 23rd out of 40 nations in the Danone Nations Cup under-13 football tournament which concluded yesterday in Lyon, France.

In yesterday's play-offs, Bangladesh lost to England 3-2 on penalties, after a goalless draw, but defeated Uruguay 4-3 in the shootout following a 1-1 draw.

Earlier, the kids from Bangladesh lost 1-0 to Vanuatu on Saturday.

South Africa were pitted against the hosts in the final last night.

BFF Will Send U-15s to Tata

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) will send its under-15 football squad for a month-long training at India's famous Tata Sports Academy.

The 25-member team in addition of coaches Golam Jilani and Bayezid Alam Nipu are expected to leave Dhaka on June 22 for the Jamshedpur academy.

However, it was learned yesterday that five of the players do not have passports. In case the problem cannot be sorted out in time, 20 players will attend the training programme, which will be held under management of Tata with help of Bangladesh Olympic Association.

All the booters have been requested to report to the coaches on June 17 at the BFF Bhaban at 4pm.

Bangladesh U-23s 1-1 Oldham Athletic

Michael Pearson crashed home a fine strike as Latics earned a hard-fought draw against the Bangladesh under-23 side.

Tony Philliskirk's outfit excelled themselves in baking 39-degree heat in the town of Sylhet, with Director Ian Hill describing them as "an absolute credit to the club."

Pearson put his side ahead with a sublime effort from the edge of the area after just quarter of an hour as Latics battled manfully in trying conditions.

The hosts equalised just before the break, with a strike from prolific Farashganj striker Mohammed Robin, but Latics were the better side once again in the second period and created a number of opportunities to win the game.

BFF Picks 30 Players for Preliminary Competition of Olympics Football

Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Saturday picked 30 out of the 36-member preliminary squad from a two-day trial for next year's home and away basis preliminary competition for the Olympics Football with Hong Kong, reports UNB.

Bangladesh will play the home match in Dhaka on February 7 and the away match in Hong Kong on February 14.

The selected players have been asked to report with their kits to team manager Amirul Islam Babu and coach Saiful Bari Titu Sunday at 7:00 pm at the BFF Bhaban in the city.

Bangladesh team: Goalkeepers - SM Shakil (Arambagh KC), Atiqul Islam Tareq (Brothers Union), Mazharul Islam Hemal (Badda Jagarani) and Ziaur Rahman Zia (Farashganj SC).

Defenders - Ariful Islam, Rajan Miah, Saikat, Ripon Khan (Youngmen's Club), Shoeb Hossain Sunny (Rahmatganj MFS), Arafat Ali Rony (Mohammedan SC), Abul Kashem (Victoria SC), Zahirul Islam Zahir, Aminul Islam (Sk Russell), Wali Faisal (Abahani Ltd), Imdadul Haq Monu (BD Boys) and SM Rajib (Farashganj SC).

Midfielders - Zahed Pervez Chowdhury (Abahani Ltd), Enamul Haq Sharif, Maruf Ahmed (S Russell), Zahid Hossain (Mohammedan SC), Nasirul Islam (Badda Jagarani), Rony Islam (Farashganj SC) and Mamunul Islam Mamun (Brothers Union), Abdul Baten Majumder Komol (Youngmen's Club).

Strikers - Zahid Hasan Emily (Brothers Union), Mehdi Hasan Uzzal, Anwar Hossain (Abahani Ltd), Mohammad Robin (Youngmen's Club), Mithun Chowdhury (Victoria SC), and Mohammad Ronny (Muktijoddha SKC).