The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has selected 35 promising young players from a pool of 200, offering them coveted spots in the national academy.
This selection comes after a rigorous five-day trial, following an initial talent hunt through the inaugural Academy Cup (U-15) tournament held last December.
The Academy Cup, contested by 168 teams, served as a valuable platform for coaches to identify raw talent. From this initial pool, 200 players were shortlisted for further evaluation.
After a grueling five-day trial that pushed their physical and technical limits, 35 young footballers emerged victorious, receiving the coveted "Yes" cards from the BFF.
These young athletes will now call the Elite Academy at Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Shipahi Mostafa Kamal Stadium their home. They will undergo intensive training for the next month, honing their skills under the watchful eyes of experienced coaches. Following this training period, a final selection process will determine the fate of these budding stars.
The cream of the crop will be chosen to form a 23-man squad that will represent Bangladesh in upcoming age-group tournaments.
The BFF isn't neglecting their existing academy players either. Saiful Bari Titu, the federation's technical director, announced plans to release some older players, currently exceeding 40, who recently participated in the Bangladesh Championship League (BCL). These players will undergo their own trials upon returning from vacation, with the possibility of being selected for the U-23 national team or even the senior national squad.
This selection process also saw the involvement of British coach Peter Butler, currently overseeing the Bangladesh women's team, demonstrating the federation's commitment to a holistic approach to talent development. Despite the ongoing heatwave, the BFF has taken a crucial step in securing the future of Bangladeshi football by identifying and nurturing these 35 promising young players.
