Chittagong Abahani Limited, the giants of the Port City are taking part in the Bangladesh Premier League football of this season with an uncertainty as they are going through a huge financial trouble.
Earlier, there was an uncertainty about their participation in the league following the withdrawals of two other top teams Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club and Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra.
Sheikh Russell and Sheikh Jamal, former league champions are not taking part in the current football season, as they could not form the team having no sponsors. Chittagiong Abahani Limited, also fell into doubt about their participation in the league due to same trouble.
Finally, though the players submitted the list at the last minute of the last day of the players’ registration, there are still huge concerns whether they would last long up to the end of the season.
The Port City club could make their registration with the initiative of former national stars Zahid Hasan Emily and Mamunul Islam.
For last three months the team have been looking for supports from any of the individuals or organisation but did not get enough help. As they had to start their practice just this week some five to sis days before to kick off the league, when their first match against the Bashundhara Kings to take place on Friday, as Asian City recently came forward.
Cycling Federation general secretary Mohammad Taher ul Alam Choudhury is now looking after the club. He said about the current situation, “We haven't been able to pay any money to the players yet.
The practice started and we managed accommodation and food for the players. A lot of spending every day ahead of starting the league.
The expenses will be increased when the games get going and I am still worried, how long we would be survived.”
Usually, players receive 30-70 per cent of their contract money during the registration and rest of the dues paid as monthly salary. But players who made registration in the Chattogram Abahani did not receive any money.
Former national captain, Zahid Hasan Emily has been trying to convince the players to calm down. “As a former footballer, thinking about the family and the future of our younger brothers, I am still trying hard to give them something.”
The current season will continue till May 31.
It will need a lot of money to run the team for the long period of more than five months. Emily's fear whether they would have to be stopped at the midway of the league – “We started with a great challenge, but now I am worried about how long we could be survived.”
One of the club’s director Swapan said, “Cricket star Tamim Iqbal’s father (late), who was a sports organiser run a team named Khaja Recreation Club at Kazirs Deuri area of Chattogram City. Later the club revamped as Chittagong Abahani.”
“Tamim is aware of the crisis of Chatttogram Abahani. I hope he will play an effective role in this crisis period to run the club,” said Swapan, the director of the club.
At the early stage, after Tamim’s father passing away, former Member of the Parliament Shamsul Haque Chowdhury took over the responsibility of the team.
In 2015, Tarafdar Ruhul Amin became the chairman of the football committee. He managed the team for some eight to nine years. But the businessman left the team before the start of this season.
Though he again he agreed to take the clubs responsibility before the recent presidential election in the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF), when he announced him as one of the candidates for the post of president.
However, finally he withdrew his candidature. However, former national footballer Saifur Rahman Moni has taken over charge as head coach of Chittagong Abahani
