Once considered easy pickings for title contenders, the Services team Bangladesh Police Football Club (FC) has well and truly shaken off that image. Having secured an impressive third-place finish last season in the Bangladesh Premier League, Police FC currently sit in fourth position. However, the team that has shown promise for two consecutive seasons now harbours genuine title aspirations.
These dreams are far from fanciful. Police FC boast a long history in Dhaka's football scene, but previously their primary objective was simply league survival. Now, their name is mentioned alongside the likes of Bashundhara Kings, Abahani, and Mohammedan - footballing royalty in Bangladesh.
Last season, Police FC were the only team to defeat eventual champions Bashundhara Kings, and this term, they held the Kings to a creditable 2-2 draw at their home ground in the return fixture. Their performances against established powerhouses have garnered widespread praise. Currently in fourth place with 23 points from 16 matches, Police FC have also reached the semi-finals of the Federation Cup and the quarter-finals of the Independence Cup. The club's General Secretary and Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Rezaul Haider, attributes their success to strong team spirit and unwavering discipline.
"Discipline is paramount," Haider emphasised. "We treat all players equally, regardless of whether they're serving officers or not. This fosters a strong understanding within the squad."
Since 2021, Police FC have been under the guidance of Aristica Cioaba, a UEFA Pro Licence holder from Romania. Haider has placed full faith in Cioaba to deliver on-field success.
"The coach has complete autonomy," Haider confirmed. "Management doesn't interfere with team selection or playing strategy. His decisions are final, allowing him to get on with the job at hand."
Cioaba echoed this sentiment: "There's no interference from the team. Management offers suggestions, which I consider, and the players strive to implement my plans."
Police FC also boasts excellent facilities. They have their own dedicated training ground, swimming pool, gym, and even a hospital on-site. Players receive top-notch medical care for any injuries, allowing them to focus solely on performing on the pitch. Left-back Isa Faisal, a six-year veteran of the club, recently earned his first national team call-up thanks to his performances for Police FC. He's optimistic about the club's title chances: "Our president, Police Commissioner Habibur Rahman, regularly attends matches and motivates us. This boosts our morale and desire to succeed. When someone so high up in the organisation shows such support, it makes you want to perform well. That's certainly the case here."
While Police FC may not possess the star-studded foreign contingent of some rivals, they are not fazed by the challenge. "We might not be there yet," Faisal admitted, "but you might just see us lift the title in the future."
The club is considering a strategic shift for next season. However, financial constraints remain a concern for Haider: "Building a strong team boils down to finances. Some of our rivals' budgets could cover four of ours! Nevertheless, we have plans to push on to a higher level next year."
The more commitment and passion invested by Police FC and other teams in this 'healthy' competition, the better it bodes for Bangladeshi football as a whole.
