Tabith Awal is a well-known figure in the country鈥檚 football fraternity, but his lone competitor for the Bangladesh Football Federation鈥檚 presidential post in Saturday鈥檚 elections, AFM Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury, a grassroots-level organiser from Dinajpur district, is completely his opposite.
Mizanur, popularly known as 鈥楩ootball Mad Mizan鈥� stated that he is running for the presidency post as a protest against the 鈥榗ountry鈥檚 football 聽moguls鈥�, who have failed to keep their word for the betterment of the sport in Bangladesh.
鈥橳his campaign is a protest against the so-called bigwigs in football, who make big promises but deliver little for the game鈥檚 development. If the voters want, I will win. But I don鈥檛 know what the voters will decide,鈥� Mizanur told 抖阴精品.
Mizanur served as a banker for about 31 years since 1982 and started to work as a local coach in 1986 jointly.
He has proudly managed four local football clubs in his area and boasts a decade-long playing career in divisional-level competitions.
The 67-year-old believes the presidency will allow him to implement reforms in Bangladesh football. He vowed to improve the country鈥檚 women鈥檚 football and develop age-level teams.
鈥業 decided to run for the post because the president鈥檚 post is the highest authority in the BFF. If elected, I will focus on grassroots development, where I have vast experience. I plan to establish a women鈥檚 football team in every district, alongside four age-level boys鈥� teams 鈥� Under-10, Under-14, and Under-16 and 20,鈥� he said.
Mizanur, the son of late teacher AM Tasir Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury and brother of Bir Uttam Shaheed Captain Mahbubur Rahman, described himself as an outcast in his family due to his passion for football and his decision to invest his retirement savings into the sport.
鈥榃hen it became challenging to balance coaching and my banking career, I opted for early retirement. I used my retirement funds for football, which made me an unwanted person in the family,鈥� he said, having retired from the Agrani Bank in 2012.
聽In total, 46 candidates will be contesting for various positions in the elections. Two for the presidency, one for the senior vice president, six for vice-president, and 37 for executive committee members, for available 21 posts.
聽A total of 133 councillors will access their voting rights to have the committee鈥攐ne president, one senior vice president, four vice presidents, and 15 members 鈥� for a four-year term.
