‘Not a single player can attract spectators’

If Soyeb Hossain Shamim is asked about the results of football matches from 1975 to late 1990, or about the squads of Mohammedan, Abahani and the national football team during that time, he will not disappoint you with the information stored in his brain. He is the equivalent of a living Wikipedia of Bangladesh football.

Shamim used to travel from his home in Munshiganj to Dhaka alone to watch football matches, especially those featuring Mohammedan and Abahani, before heading to Japan in search of his fortune. However, he never left football and, in Japan, he watched at least 150 J-League matches, the FIFA World Cups and international friendlies in Japan.

The 55-year-old still speaks fondly when recalling Bangladesh football's glorious past, but there is as much disappointment when he speaks about the present state. The last match he saw from the gallery was an Abahani-Mohammedan encounter in 2019.

"I started watching football from the gallery at the age of 11. Vivid performances that are still fresh in my memory. I really miss those days," said Shamim, who now hangs around the gallery with the friends at their behest and recalls football's glory days rather than concentrating on matches.

"Honestly, matches can't draw attention because players have no individual skill. They lack commitment, discipline and proper physique compared to former footballers," Shamim said. "As a football fan, I also made a contribution to the country's football because I spent money to buy tickets. I went to stadia to enjoy pure entertainment, but now there is not a single player who can attract spectators."

"There were no academies but players' individual skill was really good. They had sincerity and had matured through district football leagues, which are not held regularly now. I think footballers are overvalued now and are getting more money than their ability [deserves]," he said, blaming organisers for football's downfall.

"Organisers are responsible for this dreadful situation. I can't provide evidence, but I believe officials fixed matches, with the players well aware of the results. So, how will football go forward? Clubs are not even as strict about discipline as they were."

He also believes the Bangladesh Premier League is a barrier to development because officials are more focused on the BPL than other leagues. Shamim is also disappointed by the BFF committee led by Kazi Salahuddin despite holding a placard in support of Salahuddin during the voting day of 2008 BFF elections.

"When Salahuddin Bhai came to contest the BFF polls in 2008, I held a placard in his support on the day of the polls because we, the football fans, had big expectations that football activities would be strengthened when the right person was going to sit on the hot seat. He knew all the disputes and problems that stood in the way of football's development. He not only failed to fulfil our expectations but pierced our balloon of expectations with a needle," said the frustrated fan.

"I haven't seen any positives being inserted into football in the recent past. Instead, the BFF brought low-standard teams for the Bangabandhu Gold Cup in a bid to get results, but the national football team could not give any output," Shamim said. "I don't want to give any marks to the current BFF committee. I think the BFF should invest at the grassroots level instead of bringing Argentina and Lionel Messi. It should focus on 90 years instead of the 90-minute entertainment provided by Messi."

"There may remain a path for football to get out of this position but such a revival needs a long time. I believe I will not be able to see the good day of football again in my lifetime. However, I want to keep hope intact that someone will come and get football out of this bad condition," said Shamim, who urged authorities concerned to return spectators to those glorious days.

 "As a spectator, I want the revival of Bangladesh football so that spectators, who were once forced to leave the gallery due to poor showings, return to stadia. I believe it is not possible overnight and the BFF must have a proper plan to bring spectators back to the gallery," concluded Shamim.