Football
Xavi won't continue at Barcelona after this season, citing 'lack of respect' and mental fatigue
Xavi Hernández won't continue as Barcelona's coach after this season, saying he can't get the team out of a slump.
Xavi announced his decision on Saturday, minutes after Barcelona lost to Villarreal 5-3 in the Spanish league, leaving it 10 points adrift of leader Real Madrid.
"I would like to announce that on June 30 I will cease being the coach of Barça," Xavi said. "As a Barcelona fan, I can't allow this situation to continue, we need a change of course and of dynamics."
BPL Football: Both fixtures end goalless on Saturday
Xavi said he made the decision "several days ago," and although the hard defeat to Villarreal set the scene for him to announce the decision, he "would have made" it soon enough. He said he hoped this decision will decrease the stress and tension his team is enduring.
"The feeling of being the coach of Barcelona is cruel, it is unpleasant, you feel like you don't get the respect you deserve," Xavi said. "It wears you down, affects your mental health, your emotions, up to the point that you say you can't go on. My loved ones know that."
Xavi returned to Barcelona as the coach in November 2021 with his only experience a stint in Qatar. He has a contract through the end of next season.
The 44-year-old Xavi led Barcelona to the Spanish Super Cup title and the Spanish league title last season, the club's first trophies since the exit of Lionel Messi. The club mortgaged its future to help him do that by signing players like Robert Lewandowski.
BPL Football: Holders Bashundhara Kings to play Dhaka Abahani Ltd in a titan battle on Friday
But Barcelona has struggled this season and has shown severe signs of suffering a collapse this month.
Barcelona saw its best two chances of getting a title in this campaign evaporate recently. Xavi's side exited the Copa del Rey quarterfinals after losing in extra time at Athletic Bilbao 4-2 on Wednesday, a loss that came two weeks after Barcelona was dismantled by Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup.
After the Villarreal debacle Xavi said his players' lacked the "maturity" to know how to hold onto leads, and after the Bilbao loss he also underscored that he was playing with several young players. But that seemed at odds with the fact that his starting side was led with veterans like Lewandowski, Ilkay Gundogan and players in their prime like Pedri González and Frenkie de Jong.
Federation Cup Football: Sheikh Jamal DC assure knock out stage outplaying Rahmatganj MFS 4-1
Barcelona is set to play Napoli in the Champions League round of 16 next month. Xavi said he was still motivated to lead the team at what is no doubt a long-shot bid at ending his stint with a European Cup.
BPL Football: Both fixtures end goalless on Saturday
Both the 5th round matches of the 10-team ABG Bashundhara Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football on Saturday (January 27) ended in goalless draws at two separate venues across the country.
Bangladesh Police FC shared points with old Dhaka outfit Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society in a goalless affairs at the Shaheed Bir Shreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj Saturday afternoon.
BPL Football: Holders Bashundhara Kings to play Dhaka Abahani Ltd in a titan battle on Friday
In the day's other match, Sheikh Russel KC split points with Fortis FC also in a goalless draw at their home venue --Bashundhara Kings Arena--Saturday afternoon.
On completion of the day's 5th round matches, Police FC advanced to the 3rd slot in the league table toppling Dhaka Abahani Ltd by virtue of better goal difference, despite both the teams secured seven points each.
Federation Cup Football: Sheikh Jamal DC assure knock out stage outplaying Rahmatganj MFS 4-1
Defending champions Bashundhara Kings comfortably dominated the league table with all win-record securing full 15 points, Federation Cup champions Dhaka Mohammedan SC maintained at the 2nd slot securing eleven points while Dhaka Abahani Ltd went down to the 4th slot also with seven points.
Three teams --Rahmatganj MFS, Fortis FC and Sheikh Russel KC-- collected five points each and shared the 6th, 7th and 8th places respectively due to goal differences.
The 6th round matches will begin on next Friday (February 2)
BPL Football: Former champions Dhaka Abahani, Dhaka Mohammedan win
Dhaka Abahani Ltd will face Police FC at 3 pm at the Rafiq Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh while Sheikh Russel KC will play Rahmatganj MFS at the Bashundhara Kings Arena here, also at 3 pm next Friday.
BPL Football: Holders Bashundhara Kings to play Dhaka Abahani Ltd in a titan battle on Friday
Defending champions Bashundhara Kings will play former champions Dhaka Abahani Ltd in a titan battle of the of the 10-team ABG Bashundhara Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football on Friday (Jan 26).
The crucial 5th round match between two soccer giants will kick-off at 2:45 pm at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj.
Federation Cup Football: Sheikh Jamal DC assure knock out stage outplaying Rahmatganj MFS 4-1
In the day's other 5th round match, Federation Cup champions Dhaka Mohammedan SC will face Chittagong Abahani Ltd, also at 2:45 pm on Friday at the Rafiquddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh.
Sheikh Jamal DC will meet Brothers Union Club in the day's other fixture at the Muktijoddha Smriti Stadium in Rajshahi on Friday, also at 2:45 pm.
BPL Football: Former champions Dhaka Abahani, Dhaka Mohammedan win
After the 4th round matches, BPL and Independence Cup champions Bashundhara Kings comfortably dominated the league table with all win record securing full 12 points from straight four matches.
Dhaka Mohammedan SC maintained their 2nd slot in the league table securing ten points with three wins and draw while Dhaka Abahani Ltd remained at the 3rd slot securing seven points with two wins, one draw and one defeat.
English Football Coach Peter Butler arrives in Dhaka to take charge of BFF Elite Academy
Federation Cup Football: Sheikh Jamal DC assure knock out stage outplaying Rahmatganj MFS 4-1
Former Champions Sheikh Jamal Dhabmondi Club assured the knock out stage from Group A of the 35th edition of the Federation Cup Football, outplaying Rahmatganj MFS by 4-1 goals in their first appearance at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka on Tuesday.
They comfortably dominated the first half by 2–0 goals.
Local striker Foysal Ahmed Fahim struck twice for Sheikh Jamal DC in the 32nd and 90+3 minutes, Nigerian forward Augustine Dimgba and local forward Sazzad Hossain netted the remaining two goals in the 19th and 86th minutes respectively.
Gambian forward Dawda Ceesay scored the consolation goal for the old Dhaka outfit Rahmatganj in the 90+2 minute from a penalty.
Another former champion Sheikh Russel KC made a frustrating start in a Group C of the Federation Cup, losing to Fortis FC by 1-3 goals at the Bir Shreshtha Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj Tuesday afternoon.
Gambian striker Omar Babou struck twice in the 10th (penalty) and 72nd minutes while Hakim Bappy netted the other goal for Fortis FC in the 51st minute.
Burundi forward Landy scored the lone goal for Sheikh Russel KC in the 69th minute.
In the next Federation Cup matches, Dhaka Abahani Ltd will face Chittagong Abahani Ltd at the Basundhara Kings Arena, while holders Dhaka Mohammedan SC will play Brothers Union Club at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj on Tuesday (Jan 30).
BPL Football: Former champions Dhaka Abahani, Dhaka Mohammedan win
Former champions Dhaka Abahani Ltd and Federation Cup champions Dhaka Mohammedan SC maintained their winning run in the 4th round of the 10-team ABG Bashundhara Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football at two separate venues across the countries on Saturday.
Dhaka Abahani registered the 2nd sucessive win beating another former champions Sheikh Russel KC by 3-1 goals at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj.
They dominated the first half by 2-0 goals.
English Football Coach Peter Butler arrives in Dhaka to take charge of BFF Elite Academy
Brazilian midfielder Jonathon Fernandes put Abahani ahead in the 12th minute (1-0) while St. Vincent forward Stewart doubled the Abahani margin in the stoppage time of the first half (45+2 minute).
Local striker Sumon Reza pulled the Sheikh Russel margin one back scoring one goal in the 73rd minute ( 2-1).
Later, Stewart sealed the fate of the match scoring his 2nd goal in the 85th minute (3-1).
Dhaka Mohammedan SC maintained their 2nd slot intact in the league table beating Bangladesh Police FC by 3-2 goals at the Rafiq Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh.
The match was locked in 1-1 goals in the first half.
SAFF U-19 Women's Championship begins Feb 2
Local forward Jafar Iqbal scored first for Dhaka Mohammedan in the 27th minute (1-0) while Colombian booter Palacios leveled the margin for Police in the 34th minute (1-1).
Uzbek booter Muzaffarov again put Mohammedan ahead in the 70th minute (2-1) while Mali forward Souleymane Diabate further widen the Mohammedan margin in the 78th minute (3-1).
Later, Shahed Miah reduced the Police FC margin scoring one more goal in the 84th minute (3-2).
After the day's 4th round matches, Dhaka Mohammedan SC maintained their 2nd slot in the league table securing ten points with three wins and draw while Dhaka Abahani Ltd remained at the 3rd slot securing seven points with two wins, one draw and one defeat
BPL and Independence Cup champions Bashundhara Kings comfortably dominated the league table with all win record securing full 12 points from straight four matches.
Federation Cup Football: Holders Mohammedan SC, runners-up Dhaka Abahani make good start
The day's other league match between two lowly teams --Chittagong Abahani Ltd and Brothers Union Club-- ended in 2-2 draw at the Bir Shreshtha Fl Lt Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj.
Former national striker Mahbubur Rahman Sufil scored both the goals for Brothers Union in the 12th and 53rd minutes while Mannaf Rabby and Nasir Chowdhury scored one each for Ctg Abahani in the 80th and 82rd minutes.
The 5th round matches will be held on next Friday and Saturday.
English Football Coach Peter Butler arrives in Dhaka to take charge of BFF Elite Academy
UEFA Pro-Licensed-holder English Football Coach Peter James Butler arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday afternoon to take charge of the BFF Elite Football Academy.
Butler, who was appointed by the Development Committee of BFF few days back, will provide the modern and advanced training to the trainee footballers of BFF Elite Football Academy at the Kamalapur Stadium here.
He will replace 56-year-old another Englishman and former technical director of BFF Paul Smalley, who resigned from his post last July, citing that the Federation failed to fulfill his demands.
Born in August 1966, Butler served as the head coach of Liberia national team since 2019, head coach of the Indonesian super league team Persipura from 2017-18, head coach of the Botswana national team from 2014-17 and two Malaysian super league sides from 2011-14.
SAFF U-19 Women's Championship begins Feb 2
The four-nation South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) U-19 Women's Championship 2024 will begin on February 2 at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Shipahi Mustafa Kamal Stadium in Dhaka's Kamalapur.
Federation Cup Football: Holders Mohammedan SC, runners-up Dhaka Abahani make good start
Four South Asian countries --India, Nepal, Bhutan and hosts Bangladesh --will compete in the meet initially on league-based matches.
Later, the top two teams of the four-nation fray will play in the final on February 8.
India will play Bhutan at 3 pm local time while hosts Bangladesh will face Nepal at 7 pm (local time) in two opening-day fixtures on February 2.
ICC bans wayward Nasir for two years from all cricket activities
In the remaining matches, Bangladesh will meet India on February 4 at 7 pm while they play Bhutan on February 6, also at 7 pm, all at the Kamalapur Stadium.
Meanwhile, India will be the first foreign team to arrive in Dhaka on January 30 while Nepal and Bhutan teams expected to arrive here on the following day (January 31).
Federation Cup Football: Holders Mohammedan SC, runners-up Dhaka Abahani make good start
Defending Champions Dhaka Mohammedan SC and runners-up Dhaka Abahani Ltd made a good start in the 35th edition of the Federation Cup Football that resumed on Tuesday (January 16) after about three weeks at two separate venues across the country.
Coming from behind, Dhaka Mohammedan SC beat Chittagong Abahani Ltd by 2-1 goals at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj Tuesday afternoon.
Nigerian striker Abu Azeez put Ctg Abahani ahead in the 14th minute while local forward Jafar Iqbal levelled the margin for Mohammedan SC in the stoppage time of the first half (45+3 Minute).
BPL Football: Sheikh Russel KC suffer season's first defeat against Police FC
Uzbek Midfielder Muzaffarjon Muzaffarov scored the match winning goal for the traditional black and while Mohammedan in the 55th minute.
Federation Cup runners- up Dhaka Abahani Ltd, riding on a hattrick by Washington Brandao, made a flying start, crushing Brothers Union Club by 6-0 goals, after dominating the first half by 4-0 goals at the Bashundhara Kings Arena here on Tuesday afternoon.
Brazilian forward Washington Brandao made the first hattrick of the tournament for the traditional sky-blue Dhanmondi outfit Abahani, scoring three goals in the 31st, 71st and 73rd minutes respectively.
BFF President Kazi Salahuddin returns home from hospital after 25 days
Later, he was adjudged the best player of the match.
St. Vincent and Grenadian forward Stewart scored twice in the 82nd and 86th minutes while local forward Nabib Newaz Jibon opened the floodgate for Abahani in the 15th minute of the match.
After the day's matches, three teams – Dhaka Mohammedan SC, Dhaka Abahani Limited and Bashundhara Kings – maintained their all-win-run.
Franz Beckenbauer, who won the World Cup both as player and coach for Germany, dies aged 78
The Federation Cup Football matches scheduled for every Tuesday of the week and the next match will be held on January 23, while the 10- team prestigious Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football, scheduled for every Friday and Saturday.
In the Federation Cup, Sheikh Jamal DC will play Rahmatganj MFS in a Group A match at 2:45 pm at the Bashundhara Sports Arena, while Sheikh Russel KC will face Fortis FC in a Group C match, also at 2:45 pm at the Bir Shreshtha Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj on the day (Jan 23).
BPL Football: Sheikh Russel KC suffer season's first defeat against Police FC
Former champions Sheikh Russel KC tasted their first defeat of the season in their 3rd match of the 10-team ABG Bashundhara Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football after conceding 0-1 goal defeat against Bangladesh Police FC at their home venue --Bashundhara Kings Arena-- on Saturday.
After a barren first half, Venezuela forward Edward scored a match winning goal for Police FC in the 65th minute of the match (1-0). Later, he was adjudged the best player of the match.
On completion of the 3rd round matches on Saturday, Police FC advanced to the 3rd slot securing six points with two wins and one loss while Sheikh Russel KC went down to the 4th place collecting four points with one win, one draw and a defeat.
Defending champions Bashundhara Kings maintained the all win record to dominate the league comfortably securing nine points while Dhaka Mohammedan SC followed them also with unbeaten run securing seven points with two wins and a draw.
In the other 3rd round matches held on Friday, Bashundhara Kings outplayed Fortis SC 3-1, Dhaka Mohammedan SC crushed Brothers Union 5-1, Dhaka Abahani Ltd tasted the first win beating Sheikh Jamal DC 1-0 while Rahmatganj MFS played 1-1 draw with Chittagong Abahani Ltd.
The 4th round matches will be held next Friday and Saturday.
BFF President Kazi Salahuddin returns home from hospital after 25 days
President of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Kazi M Salahuddin returned home Tuesday (January 9) evening from hospital after about 26 days and now comfortably settled at his residence.
The BFF and SAFF resident Kazi Salahuddin successfully underwent coronary artery bypass surgery on December 28 at the Evercare Hospital in the capital.
After a long six-hour surgery, a 70-year old Kazi Salahuddin has been moved to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for postoperative monitoring as a routine case and later shifted to cabin from ICU after one week last Thursday.
After observing his health conditions for another five days, the doctor in charge permitted him to go home on Tuesday.
He was admitted to Evercare Hospital in the capital on December 16.
His recovery has been steady and positive, with the medical team expressing their satisfaction with his progress. He is enthusiastic about returning to Bangladesh Football Federation.
He extends his heartfelt gratitude for the support and well-wishes he has received from the football fraternity, his colleagues in and around the world. He is also immensely thankful for the excellent care provided by his medical team.
Bangladesh Football Federation appreciates the cooperation of the media and the public in respecting the BFF President’s need for a private and secure environment as he continues to recover.