Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Suman thrilled the crowd at the Marhum Abdul Jalil Gold Cup friendly football tournament in Naogaon.

Players from the Barrister Suman Football Academy and the Naogaon district football team took part in the friendly match, organised by the District Sports Association at the district stadium on Friday, 9 June.

Before the match, Barrister Suman gave guava saplings to the players of the Naogaon district team.

The first half was goalless. In the 40th minute of the second half the Naogaon district team scored, and four minutes later Barrister Suman's side equalised. The match ended 1-1 in regular time.

With the Boro rice harvest and threshing over, people in the district now have a fair amount of free time, and football lovers flocked to Naogaon stadium to enjoy it. A friendly football tournament is being held at the stadium for the first time in about three years. Fans from Naogaon and the neighbouring districts of Rajshahi, Joypurhat and Bogura came to watch.

The match began at 4:30pm, but spectators started arriving after noon, and the stands were full before the start. The main attraction was the presence of Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Suman. Braving the intense heat, spectators who had come from far and wide enjoyed the match, and they called for games to be held regularly at the ground.

Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Suman's initiative is aimed at advancing football at district level. "If you love something from the heart, it lasts a lifetime. Football is our first love, and we will not let this love be ruined. I am hopeful that the golden football of the 1990s will return," he said.

He said: "The people of this district are as sweet in their manners as mangoes. Had I known, I would have come to visit this district earlier. Even after coming about 600 km to play, our players do not feel tired."

Iqbal Shahriar Rasel, general secretary of the Naogaon District Sports Association and president of the district Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: "The people of the district have almost forgotten sport. The district once had many national team players. To protect the youth and turn them towards sport, matches will be held regularly at the ground. We want players from this district to reach the national level again. We are also going to restart the women's football league."

The organisers said eight teams in all are taking part in the Marhum Abdul Jalil Gold Cup friendly football tournament.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.