Connection Between Football And People Lost In Mid90s: Nasser Shahrear Zahedee

In terms of social responsibility, Nasser Shahrear Zahedee has established the Shams-ul-Huda Football Academy in Jashore. Perhaps the most systematically run academy, its founder has recently been elected as a Vice-President of the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF). This businessman-sports organizer has shared his unique thoughts on football in an exclusive interview.

Question: This is your first time getting involved with the national sports scene through football. How are you enjoying your new role at BFF?

Nasser Shahrear Zahedee: It's been great. This involvement has provided me with the opportunity to contribute to the sports scene and make a positive impact. I’m trying to make the most of this opportunity and working hard to make a meaningful contribution.

Question: Having attended a few BFF meetings and observed the internal situation, what do you think about the current state of football in the country?

Nasser Shahrear Zahedee: There are some disorganized aspects within football, but there is also potential. Rather than focusing on the past, we are more focused on how we can build the future.

Question: Can you elaborate on the potential of football in Bangladesh?

Nasser Shahrear Zahedee: The biggest potential for football here is that the people of Bangladesh love the sport. They play, watch, and support football. This passion is the most important element for the future of football in the country. If we can engage the organizers, football clubs, sponsors, and secure government support, I see great potential for football in Bangladesh.

Question: While football has always had the people's enthusiasm, it hasn’t advanced much in line with its potential. Why do you think that is?

Nasser Shahrear Zahedee: Not always. Football had a strong connection with the people during the 70s and 80s, but by the mid-90s, we lost that connection. Since then, the level of interest hasn’t been the same. We need to bring that enthusiasm back. In districts, matches attract large crowds, but in Dhaka, the response is low. This is because most sports in Dhaka can’t be held in the evening. Only the Bashundhara Kings' ground has that facility. Our national stadium’s floodlights have been out of order for years. Hopefully, it will be fixed soon. If we can't hold matches in the evening or on holidays, we won’t attract crowds, and without an audience, the game loses its energy. So, we need to work on these aspects to make football more vibrant.

Question: Before your election to BFF, you mentioned that football can’t survive unless district football is revived. Do you still believe that?

Nasser Shahrear Zahedee: Absolutely. In the districts, the problem lies in the lack of grounds. Football requires a field to be played. Some districts have a stadium, but they are shared among many sports. The District Sports Associations (DSAs) can’t provide enough space for football. If we can secure dedicated fields in each district and later in sub-districts, the face of football could change. DSA exists, but without a field, how can they organize football practice, matches, or leagues? For me, the priority is the field.

Question: Besides the field, local organizers need to play a significant role. Many DSAs are not sport-oriented and cling to their positions for political reasons. There have been complaints about BFF not assisting DSAs. What do you think?

Nasser Shahrear Zahedee: I see the DSAs in two ways. One, where there is no football activity or tournaments. But these DSAs still exist, which doesn’t make sense. Second, the support DSAs need from the federation has been lacking. For example, in Jashore and Jhenaidah, where I have some involvement, there hasn’t been enough support from the federation for local football. Both of these things need to be addressed. The federation should step up to support the DSAs. Our president, Tabith Awal, is actively thinking about this, and we are discussing how to better support and bring DSAs into the fold. Also, the local business community in each district should step up and sponsor football. If we can work together with the BFF and the DSA leaders, football can become more vibrant.

Question: Former BFF President Kazi Salahuddin was never serious about district football. He once publicly stated that district football was not his responsibility. There were even thoughts of excluding DSAs from BFF elections, citing FIFA regulations. Can this committee think of something new without including DSAs?

Nasser Shahrear Zahedee: No, absolutely not. I don’t know about the past, and I don’t want to discuss it. The current executive committee's responsibility is to spread football throughout the country and unify national football. The federation is not just for running the Dhaka Premier League or the Champions League; it is for making football across the country more lively, improving the game, and raising its global standards.

Our women’s team winning the SAFF Championship has shown the enthusiasm of the people. Similarly, if we can advance the men’s team and take the women’s team beyond SAFF to AFC levels, the entire country will celebrate football’s success. We have plans in place, and you will see progress in the coming months.

Question: Regarding the women's success in the SAFF Championship, the BFF President promised a reward of 15 lakh taka, which hasn’t been given yet. We’ve also heard about BFF's large debts. Is the federation facing financial pressure?

Nasser Shahrear Zahedee: Yes, the financial pressure is real. The executive and financial committees are working to find a way out of this situation. We are optimistic that we can move the federation from its current state to a better one.

Question: Let’s talk about your personal life. It seems that the influence of your father-in-law, the renowned sports organizer Shams-ul-Huda from Jashore, plays a significant role in your work. Which of his qualities do you admire most?

Nasser Shahrear Zahedee: Actually, Shams-ul-Huda was my father-in-law later in life. He was my maternal uncle's husband before that. So, I grew up seeing him closely. Professionally, he was the regional manager of Muslim Insurance during the Pakistan era, but his passion for sports, especially football, was evident. In 1976-77, Jashore hosted the National Athletics, and the district football team became champions of Bangladesh. His contribution to sports in Jashore, despite limited resources, was remarkable. I was inspired by his dedication, and that motivated me to establish the football academy in Jashore in 2011, which has now reached a great stage.

Question: What qualities of Shams-ul-Huda do you try to follow?

Nasser Shahrear Zahedee: His greatest quality was that he was a good person. He could work beyond party politics. Even when sports journalists criticized him, he never got angry. Once, a journalist wrote that the grass at Jashore Stadium was too tall. Shams-ul-Huda simply fixed it and invited the journalist for tea with a smile. His ability to accept constructive criticism with a positive attitude is something that is missing in today’s sports culture, and we need more of that.

Question: We’re lucky to have such an organizer in the football federation.

Nasser Shahrear Zahedee: (laughs) I want to add that football is not just entertainment; it has many benefits for society. This is why I keep emphasizing involving the public, especially the youth. If a league runs for a month or two in a city, the youth will head to the stadium in the afternoons. If we can create a consistent football culture, it can help address many social issues, particularly those related to teenagers. This can’t be solved through policing. Football will be a great tool for youth engagement and social development. If we revitalize football across the country, it will have a positive impact on the mental development of youth and the overall social structure. Those in charge of social reforms, as well as the government, should take this into consideration.

Question: You’ve been given the responsibility of BFF’s Development Committee. What are your goals and plans?

Nasser Shahrear Zahedee: The main responsibility of our Development Committee is to promote age-based football. We’ve already started working on this. We have an Elite Academy, and we aim to improve its current condition, including better facilities for training, accommodation, and food. We hope to make significant progress by February. We are also discussing other aspects of the program with the executive committee, and we’re working well together.

Question: If you had to compare the national teams of the 1980s with the current team, which would you consider better?

Nasser Shahrear Zahedee: I’ll talk about the national team in more detail after a while. The new committee has taken charge, and BFF’s president himself is handling the national team committee. He’s giving it the utmost priority, and I’m hopeful that in a year, we’ll see a much stronger national team. The 1980s were not a golden era for international football, but football within the country was in better shape.

Our current focus is on doing well in two areas. Our women’s team has succeeded in the SAFF Championship. Now, we’ll see how the men’s team performs. We’ve never reached the second round of the AFC tournaments, but we aim to make it to the second round in the upcoming age-based AFC tournaments. We want to move forward step by step.