Imtiaz Ahmed Nakib, a former forward for the national team, has been continually connected with Mohammedan Sporting Club for the past 24 years. During that time, he has witnessed the highs and lows of one of the most popular outfits in the country. Before calling it quits in 2007, the prolific striker had played for the Black and White for a total of 13 seasons, beginning in 1989. During that time, he also spent five years playing for Muktijoddha Sangsad. Since then, Nakib has been involved in a variety of various managerial capacities at Mohammedan. After the club made it to the final of the Federation Cup for the first time in 14 years, the 48-year-old discussed several factors surrounding the club in an exclusive interview with Anisur Rahman of The Daily Star. The conversation was conducted after the club made it to the final for the first time.
What are your thoughts on Mohammedan making it all the way to the final of the Federation Cup after a wait of 14 years?
Imtiaz Ahmed Nakib (IAN): Of course, it makes me delighted to see my dearly loved Mohammedan in the final of the Federation Cup, and we are also pleased to see Abahani there. I believe that choosing Shafiqul Islam Manik bhai as the head coach was a mistake, despite the fact that we had previously pledged to put together a youthful and strong team that would consistently put up a fight before the move.
After around ten to twelve years, I think we have been able to put together a decent team consisting of our most talented and prospective players; nevertheless, they did not do very well in the first leg of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). However, with the elevation of assistant coach Alfaz Ahmed, who had previously worked with British coach Sean Lane for over three years, they have started doing well in the second leg of the league. Alfaz Ahmed had previously worked with Sean Lane. When it comes to football, the head coach is one of the most crucial factors, and after making the switch, our team has seen a positive shift as a result.
To what extent does Mohammedan exhibit professionalism in his management of the club?
IAN believes that the route that Mohammedans pursue is not the correct one. Only two individuals, the club president Mubeen sir and the football committee chairman Alomgir bhai, are running the show with their fullest financial aid; but, the truth remains that football is today a major business all over the world, and you need to handle it in the appropriate manner.
Although we have a large number of backups, including former Mohammedan players, supporters, and others, we are unable to move forward because we do not have sufficient timely logistic assistance. Over the last 12 to 15 years, Mohammedan’s primary challenge has been a lack of financial resources, and despite our best efforts, we have not yet fully recovered from the most recent financial crisis.
In addition, Mohammedanism does not have a fixed base of operations. Otherwise, we will continue to go through such a tough patch in the next days as well, so we need to make sure that the existing level of our accommodations, food, and gym facilities, among other things, is raised to a higher standard.
MA: Do you think it will be able to find a solution to the financial crisis in the next several days?
IAN: In my opinion, there are 16 directors and the president of the club who have the power to make whatever changes they see fit. In the middle of the Motijheel neighborhood, the club has property that is 5.5 bigha (79,200 square feet) in size. If we develop this land into a source of stable monetary flow, we won’t require the contribution to maintain the club’s operations. And despite the fact that the directors are contributing money to meet the club’s annual requirements of 15 to 16 crore, the question of how long they will continue supplying the money and why they will continue paying the money remains. I believe that we will be able to make money on a consistent basis from the club land in Motijheel.
What do you believe the reasons are for Mohammedan not having the same level of financial fluency, devoted players, and followers that it formerly did?
IAN: I was also a Mohammedan footballer, but in the 1990s, I noticed that the club’s decision-makers didn’t have any kind of vision or long-term strategy in place. This was especially true after the decade of the 1990s. In the sports of football, cricket, and hockey, there was no plan. During the course of each season’s transfer window, one or two individuals were tasked with the responsibility of forming the separate squads, and they carried out their duties season after season.
You see the plan that the Bashundhara Kings have, which includes building a stadium, a gymnasium, and dorms for the players, and they also have a detailed plan for how their team will look for the following season; however, we do not have a plan like that.
How much of the blame should be placed on individual clubs for the abysmal status of football in the country?
IAN: There is no question that the clubs are entirely to blame for this decline since the federation did not prioritize the development of football players. Are there any plans for the clubs that you could show me? Exist, if only on paper, any youth teams representing any of the clubs? However, the clubs are expected to establish youth teams, which are to be coached and developed throughout the year in order to produce high-quality players.
In my opinion, the federation bears some of the blame for the current state of affairs. If they had been able to organize district football on a more consistent basis, then new football players would have emerged; nevertheless, this was not the case. In addition, all competitions, with the exception of the BPL, are now being played on the subpar artificial turf at Kamalapur stadium, which has caused a significant number of talented players to retire prematurely due to injury.
MA: Why has Mohammedan been unable to build up its marketing department?
IAN: I believe that the board of directors will be able to provide you with further information about it. If social clubs like as the Dhaka Club, Gulshan Club, and Chittagong Club are able to maintain their operations through the generation of their own funds, then I don’t see any reason why a sporting club couldn’t do the same thing. I believe that all clubs competing at the highest level should have secure revenue streams.
MA: Mohammedan Athletic Club was victorious in all domestic competitions save from the BPL. In the next days, may the Black and Whites get a whiff of the professional league championship?
IAN: In all honesty, it is subject to the judgment of the higher-ups in the club. If the club president and the chairman of the football committee can instill trust in us, then I believe that we will be able to move on with our plans. And that is it.