Ashish Bhadra, one of the members of star-studded Bangladesh national football team of 1980s, is not happy to watch the downward graph of Bangladesh football. However, he is very much optimistic for better future after witnessing a good brand of soccer from the national side against India in the recently held FIFA World Cup qualifier in Kolkata.

Ashish Bhadra, who now hardly watches Bangladesh Premier League matches in Dhaka, shared his observation of the local sports activities in port city with The Independent on Tuesday.

 First of all, the former star booter talking about the local football and said, “The way competitions or league are being organised, is not appropriate procedure, it will tough to develop football as well as other sports.

Ashish Bhadra also cited about some drawback of the clubs, as he said, “For long times clubs are going on disorganised way, organisers’ approaches really not looked positive and there is lack of commitments.”

“So proper persons should be selected for proper places, genuine and diehard organsiers are very much necessary to run clubs. Actually who are dedicated for the sports, should run the associations, clubs and other organisations, rather than the popularity as well as the level of our sports would never go on higher level.”

Ashish Bhadra was also telling about the grounds problems. “There is very much scarcity of ground in the port city. Moreover some of the play grounds have been occupying by different quarters and even the  grounds available not looked after properly."

“You see Polo Ground, a big ground, hundreds players can play here but now the ground almost used by some quarters for different fairs or exhibitions, even outer stadium, adjacent to the M A Aziz Stadium, is not use for sports, round the year here different fair is being organised, it is really ridiculous that a part of stadium is used for other purposes over looking sports.”

The financial strength is also one of the most important subject you have to give priority, “Most clubs financial condition is very poor. Clubs financial strength should be very strong, as lack of enough monetary supports, clubs have to face too much problems to run their activities round the years.”

“So I think that now the time has come to think in different ways, as the clubs would have to be well off enough and for this they have to have their own source of income.”

“In fact all the leagues, third division, second division, first division and premier division are organising almost regularly, it’s good but the way the competitions are being organised it is not at all suitable to bring the standard of the game ahead and there would be no development at all.”

“If you take it as your academic job to organize the leagues and complete premier division football within a month, that’s okay but it is quite impossible to develop the standard of football, obviously not possible to bring the crowds in the stadium,” Ashish.

About the ongoing Sheikh Kamal International Club tournament, Ashish Bhadra said, “It’s good big tournament under a big banner is being organized. This type of international football may inspire the crowd to come back in the ground to watch the football.”

Finally Ashish Bhadra recollected his memory with the match they played against India at Salt Lake, Kolkata in 1985. Bangladesh despite playing  better game conceded a 1-2 defeat in the World Cup qualifier.

“Actually it was much thrilling match, we playing with full domination in front of more than 70,000 crowds and at stage we took the lead but were unfortunate finally we could not win the match,” Ashish expressed.

Ashish Bhadra was the lone scorer for Bangladesh. “Really what a wonderful feeling, after constant pressure playing with full domination and opening better scoring chances we scored only one goal but India scored twice.”

 “Actually, when I was watching the match between Bangladesh and India on October 15, I was just recollecting the memory of that day, when we could not win despite opening better chances, cross bar denied our (Chuunu) effort this time also we could not win and the scenario was almost same, our boys opened better chances, cross bar denied chance.” Any way this time at least they drew the match.”