National hockey team members Roman Sarkar and Mahbub Hossain are set to join the German hockey league, playing for the AV Bublingen club.
Their departure to Germany scheduled for the early hours of April 23. Both athletes recently participated in the Premier Hockey League—Roman for Abahani and Mahbub for Usha Krira Chakra—and serve as players for the Navy. The Hockey Federation indicates they will remain in Germany until July before returning post-league.
The duo, who both hold midfield positions, have made significant contributions to the sport. Roman has been a stalwart for the national team since 2013, while Mahbub secured his regular spot in 2022. The AV Bublingen club extended formal invitations to both, and following protocol completion, they are prepared for departure. Sohanur Rahman, this year's league top scorer, also had plans to play in Germany but is currently engaged in a tournament in India with the Air Force, with potential subsequent travel to Germany.
Roman expresses pride and anticipation for the opportunity to compete in Germany, aiming to pave the way for future Bangladeshi players in the German league. Mahbub shares this enthusiasm, focusing on delivering a strong performance. Roman is excited about playing in Germany, saying, "It's a great honor for me. I will try to play well there and want to create a position so that more Bangladeshi hockey players get the opportunity to play in the German league in the future." Mahbub Hossain is also excited. He says, "I just want to perform well in Germany."
The trend of Bangladeshi players joining the German league began in 2010, thanks to Gerhard Peter, the former German coach of the Bangladesh national hockey team. Esteemed players like Maksud Alam, Imran Hasan, Russell Mahmud, and Mamunur Rahman Chayan have previously played there, alongside others who have competed across various tiers of the German hockey system.