bffonline.com, Dec 15:

Bangladesh Football Federation’s quest to build a football academy finally is going to see light after Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave her word to hand over the Sylhet BKSP (Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishthan) to the football’s governing body in the country.

BFF president Kazi Salahuddin today announced this a news briefing at the BFF House.

“The Honorable Prime Minister has given her word to give us the Sylhet BKSP while watching the final of the Bangabandhu SAFF Championship 2009 on Sunday. When we get that establishment, we will set up a whole new administration to run the academy,” Salahuddin told the press.

The sports ministry earlier wanted to dedicate only half the facilities at the sports institute, which has yet to become active. But the BFF had refused because it needs the whole establishment to start the academy with at least 100 students.

“We will go through a very tight scouting process to find out young players who would be under the guidance of a very able staff including foreign coaches. Beximco has also agreed to provide us Tk three crore per year for an eight-year stint to run the family,” added the BFF chief.

“We will concentrate on 10-12 years old kids but also need groups of 15 and 17 years because the 10-year old players would need at least eight years to get into the professional stage. We need players in the pipeline for the national team, so we have to select a few older players,” said the former national football captain and coach.

“The Ajax Amsterdam academy, one of finest in the world, will be our role model and I want to visit the academy in Holland next month to see the way they work.”

The BFF is expected to launch the academy in the first quarter of 2010.