The first match of the domestic football season. The field at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Comilla is in the news after the results of the Challenge Cup match between Mohammedan and Bashundhara Kings. There is no grass, holes, high and low, a huge grass field behind the dug out. It is on such a field that Bashundhara Kings’ Argentine coach Mario Gomez made his debut as a coach in Bangladesh.
Gomez is one of the high-profile people working in Bangladesh football in recent times. It is unusual for an Argentine coach to have a top-level game in a country on such a shabby ground. Even then, as if out of courtesy, he did not ask any questions or complain, saying, ‘Both teams played on the same ground. I hope the ground will be better in the future.’
Kings’ opponent Mohammedan’s home venue is Comilla. Although the Argentine coach of Kings did not mention any direct complaints or problems with the ground, Mohammedan captain Mehedi Mithu did say, ‘The ground is bad. Still, there is no excuse for not being able to play well and losing.’
Mohammedan is the host of the Challenge Cup venue as the league champion. Mohammedan Comilla venue officially got the venue on September 14. Although four days have passed, it is known that it has not played an effective role in the development of the field. Finally, the Football Federation took the initiative to start the field work yesterday. In this way, today’s match was held.
Along with the lack of sincerity of the club, there is also the shortsightedness of the federation. The Federation Cup will start from September 23. There is no home and away in the Federation Cup, the field is the responsibility of the federation. This time, one of the venues of the Federation Cup is Comilla. As a result, preparing the Comilla venue also falls under the responsibility of the federation.
Despite the unprepared field today, there were five goals, two penalties and a red card. Even though Bashundhara Kings received a red card, the Argentine coach praised the refereeing, saying, ‘The refereeing was good. The match was quite competitive in the first half. Mohammedan is a good team but they suddenly lost their rhythm in the second half.’
Kings played for about 40 minutes with one man less. Despite having one more man, Kings sent the ball into Mohammedan’s net three times in the second half. Gomez said about the strategy, ‘The footballers worked extra hard because they were one man less. There was extra pressure among everyone.’
Kings are five-time league champions. They lost the title last season. The new coach started with a trophy. He commented, ‘We want to move forward step by step. Now we will make separate plans for the AFC Challenge Cup, league and Federation Cup.’
FAQ
Who is Mario Gomez?
Mario Gomez is an Argentine football coach who recently joined Bashundhara Kings, one of Bangladesh’s top football clubs.
What tournament did Mario Gomez win in his debut?
He won the Challenge Cup with Bashundhara Kings, marking a successful start to his coaching career in Bangladesh.
Why was the Comilla Stadium pitch criticized?
The pitch was uneven, lacked proper grass, and had holes, making it difficult for players to perform smoothly.
Did Mario Gomez complain about the poor field conditions?
No, he remained respectful, saying both teams played on the same ground and expressed hope for better fields in the future.
