Clubs are the guardians of football culture in countries around the world. Ever since its inception, the contribution of football clubs in nurturing football, developing new talent, consistently producing players and popularizing the game will always be remembered. Clubs are taking their 'services' by producing players, while also helping the national team by providing players when needed.

Players are not born. Players must be created. And this is done by the club through planned training (residential/non-residential) under their academy. In professional football this program falls under the responsibility of the clubs. This is the first time in country’s Bashundhara Group club Bashundhara Kings is going to start practice by dividing into three age groups 6-11, 11-15 and 15-18 in order to fulfill their promise.

The activities of Manchester United, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Arsenal, Man City etc. academy are discussed and exemplary in the football world. In post-independence Bangladesh, the clubs have never taken the initiative of creating players from the ‘entry label’ as planned. Local readymade and authorized players of Buff are trusted. The country's football could not become independent. The last 53 years of football team conditions are a document of cheating the country's football.

Bashundhara Kings' arrival in football under the sponsorship of Bashundhara Group in post-independence Bangladesh was the need of the hour. The club has changed the landscape and color of football in the country as it has evolved with time. From the beginning walked along the path of reform in football. Taking to the field with specific goals, objectives, aspirations and dreams, the club has not been confined to the national map, has been able to generate discussion in South Asian countries and beyond as the only 'True Professional' club in Bangladesh. Domestic professional football has broken all previous records in terms of success in matches and has created new history. The club, inspired by modern thinking, has given birth to a new trend in the country's club football from the very beginning. The club has become a model and role model for other clubs. The club has not only occupied the best seats in the country's football, but has established itself as a universally accepted 'brand' in the world of sports. And this 'branding' cannot be measured in terms of money.

Bashundhara Kings was born in 2016. The club became champions in the first year playing in the Pioneer League. The following year Bangladesh champion (2017) by fulfilling all the conditions of participation in the champion league and confirmed participation in the premier league (2018-2019) by participating in the champion league. Meanwhile, since 2017, the group has been keen on football. Imrul Hasan had been nominated as the president of the club and assigned all the responsibilities in 2017. Since then, this visionary man has been serving as the President of Bashundhara Kings, the best team in the country, wrapping himself and his colleagues in the mantle of responsibility, accountability, good governance and with 100 per cent professionalism.

Behind the investment of thousands of crores of taka by Bashundhara Group with the aim of improving the quality of the country's sports fields, sponsoring sports practices and brightening the image of the country in the international sports arena, the chairman of the group, Ahmed Akbar Sobhan, has a deep passion and love for sports. He himself once played hockey. Ahmed Akbar Sobhan's family members are also sports fans. They have specific goals 'vision' and dreams around the country's sports arena.

From the very beginning Ahmed Akbar Sobhan said, ‘As a partner in the progress of the nation, Bashundhara Group is committed to helping the growth and expansion of the scope and range of sports in the country.’

One day I was talking about football with Md. Imrul Hasan. He said, “We have become champions in the championship league. Thinking of forming a team for a professional league. One day, the chairman asked if people would come to watch the game if we took down the team. I said that I have to do something new. If you can form a team with footballers playing in the World Cup, good players of the country, people will return to the football field again. Chairman Sir gave the green signal to proceed. The subsequent history happened in front of everyone. Let me tell you another story, I will play in the Premier League. One day, I went to the chairman in fear and told him that seven to eight bigha of land will be enough for the practice field. With his interest and enthusiasm it became 50 Bigha. At the end is the huge 300 bigha 'multi sports complex'. Different games in the same place. Truly, the future is here.”

On February 17, 2022, Bashundhara Kings Arena was inaugurated as the first professional club in the country at the Bashundhara Kings venue by chairman of the group Ahmed Akbar Sobhan. This modern football arena is not only the first in the country but also in the South Asian countries. This is a great achievement and a matter of pride for Bangladeshi sports.

After the official opening of the arena, the chairman of the group said to the media, “We will try to take the franchise from Manchester United Club where we are going to do the indoor academy. Many clubs in Europe have expressed interest in becoming a franchise.”

He also said, “Hopefully international football matches will be held at King's Arena within a year. Apart from this, it is hoped that by the 'third quarter' of 2024, King's Academy activities, if not residential, would be possible through non-residential age-based group training.”

As promised, the first international football match between Bangladesh and Afghanistan was held at the Bashundhara Kings Arena on September 3, 2023. 9 international matches have been held in this arena till June 6, 2024. And the practice is going to start from October 4 with three groups based on age.

The president of the club Md Imrul Hassan has always talked about the importance and necessity of the academy. Recently he told the media, “Football is very popular in our country, but we have not been able to exploit that popularity in the club. The success of the national team is essential for the renaissance of football. There we are lagging behind because our pipeline is not rich. It is from that idea that this academy, although not a full-fledged academy at the moment, starting non-residentially. Dormitory will also be available in future. After the completion of Kings' club building, we have plans to make it residential as well as bring the coaches there through an agreement with an outside academy.

Writer: Columnist and analyst. Former senior vice president AIPS Asia. Lifetime member of Bangladesh Sports Press Association (BSPA). Panel Writer, Football Asia.