LBTV A Force for the community…
Emdad Rahman
Osmani Nagar FC UK have made history by becoming the very first expatriates to revisit their roots and play a football game.
The two times Greater Sylhet Upazila Cup winners UK are currently on tour in Sylhet, Bangladesh and will be playing three games in their home town.
The team were formally introduced to locals far and wide on Saturday at a special press conference in their honour before enjoying lunch as guests of the family of assistant manager, ILFL World Cup winner and SYA head coach Muhammed Nashir at his family home in Goala Bazar. The event included a birthday celebration for team manager Rashid Ali.
In the first friendly fixture Rashid Ali’s men faced Tarek Miah’s Eleven Boys FC and a highly competitive and close game sponsored by Alishaan Tandoori saw the tourists edge home with a penalty sixteen minutes from time. Both teams braved a mini thunderstorm during the match.
Aqaddeus Ali drive into the box and was unceremoniously upended. Local player Ashique coolly slotted under the keepers body to win the match for the visitors.
The historic friendly in Umorpur preceded a charity distribution and community engagement programme within the local community with team and senior officials handing out aid to locals. Thirty local families were provided a months supply of rice, lentils, oil, salt and a warm winter blanket.
The day ended with s special dinner reception hosted by Tarek Miah of the Cinnamon Restaurants group.
After the game Osmani Nagar manager Rashid Ali, himself a twice Upazila Cup champion said, “It was a very good match and very challenging in the rainy weather. The first win is the important one and hopefully the momentum will help set us up nicely for our second and third games.”
Osmani Nagar Chairman Syed Salique Ahmed added, “We are awash with emotions by the love shown towards us here. It was a good win in difficult circumstances but more importantly, we came off the pitch having made friends for life. This is the power of football and we are all rightly proud of what we have all achieved here today.”
