Premier volleyball from today

With an eye on forming a strong team for next March's Bangabandhu Cup Volleyball Tournament in Dhaka, the Bangladesh Volleyball Federation (BVF) is going to hold the Dhaka Metropolis Premier Division Volleyball League from today at the Paltan Volleyball Stadium with participation of 10 clubs.

After the completion of the premier league, the game's local governing body will hold the First Division and Second Division leagues in November to give the selection committee more options to pick a preliminary squad for the international tournament.

“We want to hold the Bangabandhu Cup next March with participation of 10 nations and we have already discussed the matter at a meeting. We will sit for another meeting on November 8 to take tasks of the tournament forward,” BVF general secretary Ashiqur Rahman Miku said at a press conference at the BOA auditorium yesterday.

Miku informed that they have already invited seven South Asian countries -- India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka -- and are looking forward to inviting Thailand and Kazakhstan.

The BVF last year organised the Bangabandhu Asian Senior Men's Central Zone International Volleyball Championship with five teams where hosts Bangladesh clinched their first-ever international title beating Kyrgyzstan. 

Miku said that head coach Ali Pour Aroji will guide the team as the Iranian agreed to come here in December to conduct the training camp.

“The Premier Division league is an opportunity for all players to show their potential and be selected for the preliminary squad as our selection committee keeps a close eye on matches. The head coach will pick the final squad from the 32-member preliminary squad. We will certainly look after a good preparation for the national team for a good result in the Bangabandhu Cup,” said the veteran organiser, who is also deputy secretary of Bangladesh Olympic Association.

Meanwhile on the opening day of the premier league today, defending champions Titas Club will take on Bangladesh Police AC while runners-up Water Development Board will play against Wari Club tomorrow. Like the previous editions, the participating teams are allowed to field three foreign players in a match and the clubs are trying to rope in Afghanistan players due to unavailability of Indian and Nepalese players due to their domestic assignments.