Hockey transfers next month?

The newly formed ad-hoc committee of Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) wants to complete the inter-club players' transfers before the departure of the national team for Oman for the qualifying tournament of the Asian Games.

Having formed eight sub committees to run hockey activities smoothly, the ad-hoc committee, chaired by its president and Air Chief Marshal Abu Esrar, expressed its desire to complete the transfers immediately. The committee gave a tentative date from February 18 to 20 as the national team is supposed to leave for Oman in the first week of March for the qualifying tournament, which is scheduled for March 9-16.

“The ad-hoc committee has given a tentative three-day timeline for the players' transfers from February 18 to 20 but the final date will be decided at the meeting of the league committee, which has been formed with DC of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Motijheel) and ad-hoc committee's treasurer Moinuzzaman Pila as its chairman and secretary respectively,” BHF general secretary Abdus Sadeque said. “All clubs want to play the league and no-one opposed the transfers.”

Out of the 31 members, three including Usha KC official Abdur Rashid Shikdar were absent. However, Usha KC president Tareq A Adel along with representatives of Mohammedan, Abahani, Mariner Youngs and the others clubs were present, informed Sadeque.

The legendary player also informed that the meeting discussed naming ether a gallery or the conference room at the Maulana Bhasani National Stadium after late Khaza Rahmatullah. The BHF may even introduce a hockey tournament after the former general secretary, Sadeque added.

He also informed that Bangladesh were offered hosting the Asian Challenge Cup in November-December with participation of the top six Asian nations including the hosts, but the meeting decided to decline the invitation due to financial constraints.