Having mentioned the range of facilities Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has been providing the national footballers, BFF president Kazi Salahuddin wants return from the players through performance on the field.
The four-time BFF president made the statement during a press conference arranged to inform the media about the two FIFA international friendlies against Nepal, scheduled to be held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Nov 13 and 17.
Asked if the players could receive special bonus for wins, Salahuddin said, “We have always placed players on the receiving end of financial benefits, including giving allowance apart from different facilities. Today [Sunday] before coming out of home, I received a call from the coach [Jamie Day], who informed me that the players have demanded the rest of new contracts’ five percent money from the clubs,” Salahuddin said.
“You know how the reduction regarding the payment of Bangladesh Premier League is taking place. I will give them but they will also have to pay dividends on the ground because it is about time to give each other,” added the BFF boss, who later sat with the head coach to discuss about the players’ demand.
“The clubs did agree to pay more than 25 percent of new contracts earlier but Salam Murshedy has already managed to raise it to 35 percent after convincing the clubs. Today I told Jamie that I never promised to ensure 40 percent payment of new contract although I told the players I would try my best for them. I told the coach to ask the players to be patient and concentrate entirely on the matches. I reckon I should be able to handle the issue but I need some additional time,” Salahuddin told The Daily Star after the meeting with Day.
Salahuddin further mentioned that the players have to perform and journalists should ask the question to the players. “Everything including foreign coaches are being provided to them and I think time has come that the footballers perform on the ground to win matches,” said the BFF president.
The BFF president also stated that two the international friendlies will be dedicated to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as part of the birth centenary of the father of the nation, instead of the four to five programmes which they unfortunately could not arrange due to the coronavirus pandemic.
However, vice-president and national teams committee chairman Kazi Nabil Ahmed assured that they are going to arrange the matches maintaining health guidelines of FIFA, World Health Organisation and the government.
He further informed that the Covid-19 tests of both teams have already been performed, which returned negative results. He also said both teams will undergo two more rounds of Covid-19 tests on November 10 and 14.
BFF is expected to sell around 8,000 tickets for each match and Bangladesh Television is scheduled to telecast both matches live from the venue.