For long one month billions of people all over the world simultaneously yelled in joy and shed tears in agony.Cheers and gloom transfixed the world in an outstandingly synchronized mode deeply touching the emotions of each and every viewer at every home in every country.
Football, only football has this terrific and magical power to hold everyone together at a time in every corner of the globe. Football is not just a game. It's a universal piece of music for countless numbers of spectators who love this unique sport.
We extend three cheers and take our hats off to show respect to all the teams that took part in the just-concluded football carnival and entertained the whole planet with their superb performances.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian people deserve monumental applause from the whole world for organizing the greatest show on earth with utmost beauty and smoothness. Security across Russia was foolproof during the World Cup 2018 and nothing unpleasant happened.
Russia has once again proven its worth and mettle to the entire globe through the unflinching leadership of Vladimir Putin. The successful accomplishment of this World Cup certainly adds another glowing feather to Vladimir Putin's hat and a graceful laurel is thus conferred to the Russian citizens too.
The football matches in this World Cup became all the more attractive with the appearance of globally esteemed figures in the galleries like Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Emmanuel Macron, Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic, Diego Maradona and some other celebrities. It has to be admitted that Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic drew much attention from the viewers for her vibrant presence in the stadiums and for her glamour too.
The exciting football matches from the first round up to the final face-off were enjoyed by everyone. People throughout Bangladesh have immense love for football. There are enormous numbers of football fans who love Brazil, Argentina, Germany, England and some more football teams. Particularly the passion of the supporters of Brazil and Argentina all over Bangladesh is unbelievably high.
Brazilian and Argentine flags flooded the rural and urban areas of Bangladesh during the World Cup and the same thing happened during the previous World Cup tournaments too. Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) can capitalize on this popularity of football in the country for the enhancement of football skills of Bangladesh football team.
Any references to football in terms of Bangladesh come with a moving nostalgia when we recall the colorful history of the football clubs like Abahani, Mohammedan, Brothers Union etcetera. During the 1980s and 1990s, football matches between Abahani and Mohammedan were no less exciting than the soccer bouts between Brazil and Argentina these days. Stadiums in Dhaka in which Abahani and Mohammedan faced each other spilled over with spectators.
Processions of the winning team paraded different parts of the capital with passionate slogans, banners and posters. People outside Dhaka used to huddle in front of televisions with nerve-raking thrill and the celebration of goals by the supporters of Abahani and Mohammedan was exhilarated with boundless delight. Similarly, the losing team's fans suffered dismay and woes for weeks.
Now we see posters of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo on social networks and in households across Bangladesh. But there was a time when stationary shops did brisk business by selling stickers and posters featuring Sheikh Aslam, Kaiser Hamid, Rumman Bin Sabbir, Kazi Salahuddin, Munna and some other football wizards to boys and girls who loved these Bangladeshi soccer players.
It was common during the 1980s and 1990s to see the posters of these football stars on the walls of almost every home in Dhaka as well as in other cities and towns.
I firmly believe the scintillating past of football in Bangladesh can be retrieved in a much more whetted style if the officials of BFF and the concerned wings of the government work in coordinated ways. Football is a game of speed and technicalities.
Resurrecting the lost legacy of football in Bangladesh can regenerate a new spirit among the country's youths and lots of youngsters will be interested to enroll for this game if proper motivation and initiatives come from Ministry of Youth and Sports and BFF. Former football players of Abahani and Mohammedan who were at the zenith of adulation during their careers can be requested to play certain roles for this purpose.
Since football is a game of just 90 minutes (excluding extra time) it never turns out to be boring. For this reason football is equally popular throughout the planet. There is no other game in the world which is as loved by everyone as football.
Recently we have come to know that some former Brazilian soccer superstars would be invited to visit Bangladesh to promote football. This effort is highly appreciated and I suppose the visit by the Brazilian footballers will be dramatically inspiring to boost the zest for football in Bangladesh.
Besides strengthening the national football team, a great deal of emphasis needs to be laid on rebuilding the enthusiasm of club football in Bangladesh. To make it happen, the practice of playing football and organizing football tournaments officially across the country are obligatory prerequisites. Football will have to be taken down to the grassroots in every village and town to restore the lost glory of the game in Bangladesh.
We will have to engage our youngsters with sports extensively to keep them away from immoral things like drug addiction, militancy and other crimes. Football is the most amusing sport on earth and I strongly believe this game can once again touch the hearts of everyone in our country too.
An old maxim says, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." We do not want students just to stick down with books all the time. We will have to encourage them to play sports, to do creative things and to excel in extracurricular programs. A speedy game like football can keep our youths physically and psychologically fit.
Bangladesh has been doing well in cricket for last several years. In the same way Bangladeshi footballers can bring honor for the nation if they are aptly groomed. The exuberance that World Cup 2018 has left behind can be utilized as an effective mechanism to reach this goal.
The writer is a columnist for
The Asian Age.
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