The 2024-25 football season in Bangladesh was set to commence on Friday with the debut of the Challenge Cup. However, recent political turmoil has postponed the season's start by three
weeks, now tentatively scheduled for October 4.
Most clubs have expressed the need for at least six weeks of preparation before the season begins. Should this request be honoured, the season will likely start after the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) elections on Oct 26.
Among the 10 teams in the Bangladesh Premier League, defending champions Bashundhara Kings have already begun their preparations, anticipating their AFC Challenge League campaign in October and November. Bangladesh Police FC is also engaged in pre-season training. However, the remaining eight clubs are in a holding pattern, awaiting the outcome of tomorrow's meeting between the BFF Professional League Management Committee and the club representatives before initiating their pre-season activities.
Abahani's management is particularly cautious, having planned to start pre-season on August 9 but delayed due to the political changes on August 5. They are now waiting for Saturday's meeting to make a final decision.
Mohammedan SC's coaching staff believes that a team requires a minimum of six to seven weeks for adequate pre-season preparation. Additionally, they argue that the BFF needs one to two months to prepare new grounds, as clubs prefer to play at venues near Dhaka.
The BFF executive members, including those from Rahmatganj MFS, believe that if the league committee grants the clubs six weeks of preparation, the season will likely start post-BFF elections, introducing potential uncertainty. The decisions made at Saturday's meeting will
be crucial.
Brothers Union's management insists that any decisions should involve input from the clubs, who are navigating an unprecedented situation. They stress that the federation must understand the current state of the clubs, which need time to restructure following the political upheaval.
There is also confusion and dissatisfaction regarding the introduction of the one-match Challenge Cup and the exclusion of the Independence Cup. Clubs are left in the dark about the season's timeframe and league venues, adding to the overall uncertainty and frustration. The federation's approach to these issues will be critical in determining the smooth commencement of the football season.
