Anisur Rahman

Wrestler Billal Hossain is now 40 and still competing in the National Wrestling Championships with the same inspiration he had some 14 years ago.

Refereeing decisions often lead to controversies in football everywhere in the world, but it is perhaps more severe in Bangladesh than many other places as big clubs often raise their fingers against match officials during and after crucial encounters.

Rangpur Division emerged champions in the inaugural Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman National Gold Cup (U-17) Football tournament with a 2-1 win over Rajshahi Division in an entertaining final at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

It may sound like idle gossip that a person built the first stand of a stadium with the construction materials originally intended for the expansion of his own building, but that is what happened in 1953 in Jashore.

The alleged sexual assault of an under-age female weightlifter sent shockwaves through the country's sports fraternity yesterday. Bengali daily Kaler Kantho revealed that a 17-year-old weightlifter was admitted to a mental hospital on October 23 because of mental trauma suffered in the aftermath of the alleged assault.

Newcomers Bashundhara Kings will be dreaming of becoming the first side to be crowned on their debut appearance in top-flight football in today's Federation Cup final but standing in the big-spenders' way is the imposing figure of giants Abahani.

As big-money foreign signings take their time to settle into the style and pace of play in Bangladesh, the opening stage of the football season's curtain-raising Federation Cup is traditionally the platform where local players can showcase their talents and make an impact.

Favourites Palestine became the newly crowned champions of the 5th Bangabandhu Gold Cup following a 4-3 win on penalties over 10-man Tajikistan in the final at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

Bangladesh's campaign in the Bangabandhu Gold Cup came to an end with a 2-0 defeat against Palestine in the second semifinal at the Birshrehtha Shaheed Ruhul Amin Stadium in Cox's Bazar yesterday, but not before the hosts won hearts with their brave performance.

The return of Bangladesh head coach Jamie Day in the tactical area for today's Bangabandhu Gold Cup semifinal against Palestine will surely serve as a motivational boost to the men in red and green. Day even conducted a vital training session just after being discharged from the hospital yesterday morning.

The fact that Bangladesh ensured a spot in the Bangabandhu Gold Cup semifinals and put up a good show against the Philippines has apparently injected new belief into the men in red and green ahead of their semifinal clash with Palestine tomorrow.

Despite an improved performance, a fumble from Tapu Barman cost Bangladesh a 1-0 defeat to the Philippines in their final group match in the Bangabandhu Gold Cup at the Sylhet District Stadium yesterday.

At a glance, the Sylhet Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan (BKSP), just 11 kilometers from the downtown and on the highway bypass road of North Sylhet, appears calm and quiet like its Savar's headquarter, giving an impression that this is the right place to groom athletes.

Despite all the obstacles posed by the Israeli Defense Force, the Palestine football team have been growning fast and stunnned everyone by claiming a place in the upcoming Asian Cup. The footballers are determined to deliver the message that football is not only a discipline, but also a tool for peace.

Like many other boys from Sylhet, he could have opted to chase a better life in England, where three of his brothers reside. Instead one local lad took the road less travelled by choosing the game of football.

A fortunate strike from Biplu Ahmed helped Bangladesh get off to a winning stat in the Bangabandhu Gold Cup as the hosts handed a single-goal defeat to Laos in the tournament opener at the Sylhet District Stadium yesterday.

He played for a number of clubs and then coached a number of mid-table teams when football was very popular in the country. He never played for the national team or coached one of the two big teams in the country – Abahani and Mohammedan. But Wazed Gazi will be remembered as one of the finest coaches Bangladesh has produced.

Nepal and Pakistan are looking forward to making it to their maiden final appearances in the regional football extravaganza when they take on Maldives and India respectively in the semifinals of the SAFF Suzuki Cup at the Bangbandhu National Stadium today.

Defender Tapu Barman was perhaps the happiest among all on Tuesday night after Bangladesh inflicted a 2-0 defeat on Bhutan in their SAFF Suzuki Cup encounter to exact revenge for their ignominious defeat at the hands of the Himalayan nation two years ago.

The battle for the sub-continent's football supremacy is all set to roll today when the 12th SAFF Suzuki Cup gets underway at the Bangabandhu National Stadium with seven nations vying for 'the World Cup of South Asia'.