Bangladesh to launch pioneer professional league

DHAKA, Mar 1 (Reuters) Bangladesh is setting up a professional league to boost skill levels in the South Asian country of 140 million people, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) said today.

The league, made up of 11 teams, will be launched in Dhaka on Friday under a pilot programme of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

''We are going to be the pioneer in this case, no doubt. It is a very important step for us to develop the game in the country,'' BFF president S A Sultan told reporters.

Bangladesh will be the first of eight countries to be included in the programme, titled Vision Asia.

The other seven are China, Hong Kong, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Yemen and Jordan.

The participating teams have contracted at least 30 overseas players, mostly from Africa. One of the main sides, Abahani, have recruited three Argentine players.

Abahani have also signed up Argentine coach Diego Cruciani, whose stint as Bangladesh national team manager ended last year.

Bangladesh are currently 154th in FIFA's world rankings.

Soccer was the most popular game in Bangladesh before cricket overtook it in late 1990s after the national team reached the World Cup and was then elevated to test-playing status.

REUTERS SSC RAI1327