ANWAR ULLAH, Dhaka: One of the famed former national footballers, Shafiqul Islam Manik remains the loan contestant against the incumbent Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) President Kazi Mohammed Salahuddin in the ensuing election to the national football’s governing body.
He, however, said that he took the decision to contest the BFF polls unconsciously, but took the next move of submitting the nomination paper consciously. The much-hyped election to the BFF is scheduled on October 03.
In an exclusive interview with The Independent on Sunday, Manik talked in detail as to what made him inspired in taking the decision to become a candidate for the post of BFF president, one of the hot-seats of the country’s sports organisations.
“Initially, I did it (i.e., collecting the nomination paper) unconsciously. But after collecting it, I submitted the nomination paper consciously. Actually, it’s like making the game plan at night just before the match day – it all starts with a right plan to start the match and arrange differently for scoring goal,” he said.
However, he continued, “When Salahuddin Bhai contested for the post of BFF president 12 years back, his age was the same as I’m aged now. Hence, I think I’m matured enough to be a candidate for the post.”
Manik, who is contesting against his footballing predecessor Kazi Mohammed Salahuddin, branded the previous committee as a case of failure and gave his opinion while identifying the major areas of lacking.
“There was no bonding at all among the members of the previous committees and they were never united to work for the development of the country’s football and that was the number one reason that the committees lasting the previous 12 years failed.”
Manik is an individual candidate as he is yet to be a part of any panel while incumbent President Salahuddin belongs to a combined panel, led by running Vice-President Abdus Salam Murshedi alongside him.”
He, however, thinks that the first condition of success for any team or organisation is to get united and work together and if elected, he promised to focus on that on priority basis.
“I don’t think it is too important to compete as a panel member. If elected, I’ll bring all under single umbrella. A football team consists of 11 members, so there should have a good combination and it’d be my priority.”
Brandishing Salahuddin as a leader who failed as BFF president, Manik said, “Salahuddin Bhia (Kazi Salahuddin) was very much successful as a player. But I think his was a case of success as a president of the BFF. Of course, I don’t think he should take full liability on his shoulder. But as the BFF head he has to take the responsibility for overall failure. He failed to organise a strong relationship among the members as there’s no unity. May be, he was a visionary; but that’s not all – you have to work.”
Also, he said, “I believe, I am a man of football. I have enough experiences too as I’m with football for long – both as a player and as a coach. Hence, I can understand what should be done for the development of football.”
According to his plan, “Main focus will be on ensuring unity and having a strong bond among all members to do something impressive since there was no understanding and unity among the members of the previous committee for which they could not reap success.”
“You can’t work smoothly if there are enemies within. If there’s no understanding and good relationship among all concerned, it becomes quite impossible to taste success. As a former player and coach, what I realised is that good and strong relationship among the players is the key to success of any team,” said Manik as the vital point of his manifesto, which will be made public within next three days.
“Every member should have accountability with regard to his duty and all should have commitment. I intend to do that, if I get elected.”
Manik also has belief that the councilors will back him as a president of the BFF as they want a change. “According to my study and analysis upon communication with the councilors that they want a positive change and that they find none but me. And hence, they will vote for me.”
Replying to a query, Manik said he does not like criticising others, but his efforts are being made only to explain his objectives and agenda for the betterment of the country’s football.
