Maradona to visit Dhaka during Mujib Year: BFF

The living legend of the world football and World Cup-winning Argentine captain, Diego Maradona, will visit Dhaka during the Mujib Year marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

“We’ve discussed this with his [Maradona’s] agent and his agent gave us a positive response, but he hasn’t confirmed the date yet,” BFF president Kazi Md Salahuddin told reporters on Tuesday.

He said Maradona will be here responding to an invitation of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF). “Maradona is likely to make a one or two-day visit to Bangladesh. He’ll meet prime minister Sheikh Hasina and wish her on the 100th birth centenary of Bangabandhu,” the BFF chief added.

BFF has taken several initiatives to mark the Mujib Year which will begin on 17 March 2020, the birthday of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

As a part of their plans, the Football Federation will arrange a six-nation Bangabandhu Gold Cup International Football in Dhaka on 15-25 January.

A total of six Asian countries -- Sri Lanka, Laos, Cambodia, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan and hosts Bangladesh -- will take part in the meet.

BFF has also planned to bring one or two former world football stars for the upcoming Bangabandhu Gold Cup to create mass hype. Among them, Brazilian versatile star Ronaldinho, Italian defender Paolo Maldini, Netherlands forward Ruud Gullit and forward Marco Van Basten and Ivory Coast forward Didier Drogba are shortlisted.

Besides, BFF is also trying to bring English Premier League giant Manchester United Football Club for an international friendly football match in June next year in Dhaka.