Bangladesh: BHF aims at facelift 
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| Bangladesh |
September 29, 2004
The Daily Star, Bangladesh
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The U-21 Challenge Cup invitational hockey tournament kicks off in Dhaka today in an effort to give the game a facelift in the country.
Desperate to change their image as the favourite punching bag in international scene, the Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) invited under rated teams like Oman, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Singapore and Iran for the eight-day meet.
But the plans of the country's hockey officials to win a title looks set to suffer after India's eleventh-hour inclusion. The BHF turned to their more colourful neighbours only when Iran and Singapore withdrew. This is the first international hockey meet in two years after the federation hosted the Prime Minister Cup Hockey in 2002.
Two matches will be held on the opening day with Oman and Afghanistan battling at BKSP in the morning. But the tournament will be officially declared open by State Minister for Youth and Sports and chairman of the organising committee Fazlur Rahman at 3.
45 pm before the Bangladesh-Myanmar match at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium.
Although India's presence will pose a threat to the hosts' bid to win a trophy, it will definitely increase the tournament's attraction with at least one strong team in the competition.
Oman are ranked lower than Bangladesh, Myanmar have no pedigree and the war-torn Afghanistan team bought proper hockey gears only after arriving here on Saturday.
Although Bangladesh have recently appointed former Pakistan international Qamar Ibrahim, the centre forward need to climb a mountain to deliver success, especially after the youth team's disastrous performance in the Asian Junior Championship in Karachi earlier this year. Bangladesh, who finished second from bottom, were thrashed 10-0 by India in a group match.
However, the Indian team, which is scheduled to reach Dhaka today, will be travelling without five players of that squad who are currently touring Pakistan with the national team.
The home team, featuring seven stick-wielders with experience of playing for the national side including captain Zahidul Islam Rajan, have been training for 23 days at BKSP in Savar under Qamar.
Although the Pakistani coach was happy with the time he got, he showed his discontent over the federation's failure to provide the team the opportunity to train on the turf at the Maulana Bhashani.
Qamar's boys got the only chance to play a practice match against the seniors and lost 2-1. Qamar also mentioned that India would be the team to beat and by the time the two teams faced each other, his boys would be well tuned up.
He also complained about the unevenness of the Maulana Bhashani Stadium turf but BHF officials at a press conference yesterday informed that they had done the repair works.
It was also announced that Sadharan Bima Corporation and Jiban Bima Corporation would sponsor the tournament jointly. The two insurance houses will provide Tk 10 lakh.
BHF president and Chief of Air Staff Air Vice Marshal Fakhrul Azam, general secretary Shamsul Bari, DG of BKSP Mohammad Ali Mondol and other BHF officials were present at the press conference.
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