Cox’s Bazar kicked off their National Football Championship campaign with a commanding 2-0 win over Khagrachhari in the first round, spreading fresh football fever across the country.
The championship, jointly organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) as part of the nationwide “Festival of Youth,” saw Cox’s Bazar dominate from the start at Shaheed Wasim Zone Birshreshtha Ruhul Amin Stadium on Wednesday (September 10).
Mohammad Kayser was the star of the match, scoring both goals for Cox’s Bazar, one of which came from a penalty. Cox’s Bazar maintained relentless pressure throughout the game, keeping Khagrachhari primarily on the defensive. The visitors managed to create a few scoring chances but failed to capitalize due to a lack of finishing ability.
Cox’s Bazar players Jahangir, Kayser, Helal, and Babu were standout performers, while Khagrachhari’s Russell and Raju Marma put in strong efforts but couldn’t prevent the loss.
Kayser was named Man of the Match and received his award from Muhammad Hossain, Sarwar Roman, Salahuddin, and District Football Association General Secretary Mohammad Hanif.
Speaking after the match, Cox’s Bazar head coach Masud Alam said,
“We will face Khagrachhari again in their home venue on September 17. We are planning to bring in a few more experienced players for that match.”
Khagrachhari head coach Tuhin Barua admitted that his team struggled due to a lack of preparation.
“We did not get enough time to train, which affected team formation. But we are hopeful of bouncing back in the next match,” he said.
This year’s National Football Championship features all 64 districts, divided into eight groups. The first two stages are played on a home-and-away basis, reducing the number of teams to 32 and then 16. The knockout rounds will culminate with the semifinals and the grand final at Dhaka’s National Stadium.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Courtesy
