The Federation Cup Football finally kicked off on Sunday at the Bir Shreshta Shaheed Shipahi Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur.
The tournament was supposed to start on Saturday but it could be rolled out as two participating teams – holders Uttar Baridhara Club Uttar Baridhara Club — could not turn up per the schedule.
However, the tournament kicked off on Sunday with Saif Sporting Club playing 1-1 draw with Bangladesh Police FC in the match at the same venue.
Defender Emery Bayisenge of Rwanda put Saif SC ahead in the in the 55th minute from a penalty while Afghan forward Amiruddin Sharifi leveled the margin for Police FC in the stoppage time of the match (90+2 minute).
Earlier, BPL champions Bashundhara Kings were absent for their match mentioning below standard condition of Kamalapur Stadium for professional football and what they see as “bad intension” behind late change in the fixture.
But, their rivals Swadhinata KS and Dhaka Abahani Limited were present at the venue in time and match officials were also appeared. Later, they left the field after waiting for 15 minutes as per rules.
Earlier, three premier division clubs – Bashundhara Kings, Muktijoddha Sngsad KC and Uttara Baridhara Club –informed the BFF in writing that they would not play the Federation Cup in the unplayable conditions of Kamalpur Stadium.
After Saturday’s incident, BFF Senior VP and Chairman of the professional league committee Abdus Salam Murshedy MP said the Federation Cup Football will go ahead with the teams willing to participate and the fate of first day’s two ill-fated matches will be decided as per rules.
Source: United News of Bangladesh