Over the years, Bashundhara Kings has become one of the country’s top privately-funded football teams. Apart from demonstrating a strong sense of professionalism, the club has also set examples for being humane towards its members and players.
However, these legacies have irked some envious people in the country’s football circle. People from the Football Federation, organisers of other football clubs, and even former footballers have joined the irrational furore against Bashundhara Kings, either out of jealousy or stupidity.
The row centres on two FIFA friendly football matches, where the national team would take part, in Nepal on 6-9 September. Ten players from the Kings have been named in the national squad. The allegation is that the premium club was unwilling to release its players for the preparatory camps as it “prioritised its own interests over national interests.”
However, the reality is that the decision to include Kings players in the camps for the friendlies was inhumane and also a breach of FIFA regulations. It was also potentially the first time a private club was informed of a FIFA match only two-three weeks earlier.
National team head coach Javier Cabrera and others in the central committee took the ill-guided decisions. And they still appear to be complaining that Kings was unfair in its failure to release players promptly upon demand. They should mend their ways.
As for the jealous opportunists, fueling the unnecessary row, the people are much more aware about football and sports politics now than they were in the past. The criticisms by opportunists will only draw public laughter at them, while keeping Kings’ head high.
On the night of 12 August, the Kings beat a strong Syrian club in Doha. The lads returned home on the night of 13 August. However, the Federation asked them to join Cabrera’s preparatory camps on 15 August, violating a FIFA rule that states clubs must release their players 72 hours before a national event.
After the night of 13 August, they could only enjoy a full day’s rest before joining the camps. The Federation’s negligence of the issue and continued insistence for roping in Kings players in the camps were inhumane and illegitimate. Kings finally decided to release its players on 31 August.
But, irrespective of the potential harm to players from a short rest and early release, Kings officials continued contacts with the Federation, seeking to either delay the camp or exclude their players from it. These overtures were completely ignored in the criticisms against Kings. Furthermore, Kings never said it won’t release its players for national events, contrary to what was claimed by the envious.
The complainers appear to feel jealous at the soft corner Kings harbours for its players, as well as the world-class facilities it owns.
But the debacle has rather highlighted Kings’ support for its players’ rights, while making the opportunistic critics laughing stocks.
The writer is a lifetime member of the Bangladesh Sports Press Association
