President of the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF), Kazi Salahuddin, wants to resume his activity at the helm with full force after recovering from open-heart surgery about three months ago.
Salahuddin came to the office for the first time on Wednesday since unveiling the nameplates of Swadhin Bangla football team members at BFF House on December 16, 2023.
Salahuddin said, “It seems to me that I have returned to my world because I did not know whether I would survive when I was taken to the operating room."
The BFF president informed me that he is completely fit to work and that physicians have urged him to continue with his everyday activities, but that he is experiencing some mental stress as a result of the open-heart surgery after four blockages were found in his heart following a high-blood pressure complaint.
“I don't want to do things half-heartedly. If I stay in football, I will do exactly what I did before. I don't want to be the BFF president without doing anything; instead, if I don't want to continue, I'll quit football,” said the BFF chief.
The results of the national U-19 and U-16 women's football teams had pleased the 70-year-old, who watched their matches while bedridden, to a great extent.
"The women's teams are doing really well, and Bangladesh are now champions in every women's section, from the senior SAFF Championship to the U-16 Women's SAFF Championship in the sub-continent," Salahuddin said.
"However, it has been a lengthy journey for the national men's team, given that our football once had a domestic-competition base with a craze among the supporters. But we did not achieve many achievements at the international level aside from victories against Thailand and a few other countries after the liberation of Bangladesh. So, we need to go a long way for the men's football team."
In response to a question concerning Nazmul Hassan Papon, the new Youth and Sports Minister and president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, Salahuddin stated that his connection with Papon is like a family.