Tapu tops the money league

Though the popularity of the country's football is gradually declining, the payment of footballers is surprisingly seeing an upsurge as the Bangladesh Premier League, especially the established teams, do not hesitate to splash the cash on signing players.

An estimated Tk 46 crore was reportedly spent by 12 premier league clubs in the recently concluded players' transfer window, where the national team's defender Tapu Barman, who signed up for newcomers Saif Sporting Club, has reportedly surpassed Mamunul Islam of Chittagong Abahani as the highest paid footballer for the upcoming season.

It has been learnt that Tapu will get approximately Tk 58 lakh for his 12-month contract even though Saif SC managing director Nasiruddin Chowdhury claimed the amount agreed upon is a little more than Tk 55 lakh.

National team's captain Mamunul slipped to second position with Tk 55 lakh after enjoying the highest paid footballer's tag for the last five seasons. Mamunul claimed that he is getting Tk 5 lakh less than what he got last season, which was reportedly Tk 60 lakh.

Another defender of the national team, Yeasin Khan, is expected to be the third highest paid footballer as he is being retained by Sheikh Jamal DC for Tk 50 lakh. While there are quite a few players to get between Tk 40 lakh and Tk 50 lakh, it has been learnt  that Abahani midfielder Emon Babu and goalkeeper Shahidul Islam Sohel will get Tk 40 lakh each. Russel KC midfielder Shahedul Alam Shahed of is supposed to get Tk 35 lakh while Mohammedan's highest payment, Tk 35 lakh, went for purchasing defender Nasirul Islam.

“I don't know who has got the highest payment this season but if it is me, then I am really happy because such opportunity does not come often for a defender,” Tapu Barman said when asked about his reaction at being the highest paid footballer. “Such payment will definitely encourage me to do even better in future.”

The 23-year-old centre-back from Narayanganj however believes he deserves the amount he is getting this season as he performed well to help Abahani win the league and the federation cup title last season, apart from helping the side to a second-place finish in the Independence Cup.

“Our club's policy was not to rope in foreign defenders, so we were searching for local quality defenders instead of foreigners. Hence we agreed to pay Tapu more than Tk 55 lakh,” said a Saif Sporting Club official explaining the justification of Tapu's price.

Despite getting less than the last season, Mamunul Islam is happy and believes the club is paying him this amount as they are satisfied with his last season's performance.

“All the footballers are not getting big amounts. The number of players getting big paycheques is very small. But I think those who are being signed up for big money do deserve that payment. If you compare the value of currency of the '80s and now, I think the payments are quite justified,” opined the midfielder.

A top official of a club reasoned that the local defenders are drawing big money signings because they are performing far better compared to local midfielders and strikers.

While the top names in domestic football, especially the national team players, are drawing big bucks, the ones who are usually not on the fringes of the national team are getting much less, which is also reflected in the total payments of clubs which usually occupy the mid and lower part of the table. According to club officials, the highest payment for clubs like Team BJMC, Bothers, Muktijoddha Sangsad, Arambagh KS and Rahmatganj MFS ranges between Tk 7 lakh and Tk 15 lakh.