Bangladesh Football Federation's futsal committee chairman Khorshed Babul (3rd from left) addressing a press conference at the BFF Bhaban yesterday ahead of two futsal tournaments to be held in the city from today.Photo: STAR

Bangladesh enters futsal era today with a daylong tournament named after two great coaches of the yesteryear Gafoor Baloch and Abdur Rahim.
Although the shortest version of football is popular worldwide and enjoyed by millions of fans as a more skill oriented game, it would be first ever futsal tournament in the country.
The one-day futsal will kick off at 2pm with eight teams, including Monday's Federation Cup finalists Mohammedan and Abahani, playing on knockout basis for three hours.
The daylong event, however, would be a warm-up event for the real show -- the Citycell Futsal Competition -- which begins tomorrow with the eight B. League clubs from Dhaka split into two groups. The semifinals will be held on September 7 and the final is slated for September 8.
Both the tournaments will be played at the Woodenfloor Gymnasium at the Bangabandhu National Stadium premises.
The winners of the five-day (September 4-8) meet will receive Tk one lakh as prize money while the runners-up Tk 50,000, informed Bangladesh Football Federation's futsal committee chairman Khorshed Babul at a press conference at the BFF Bhaban yesterday.
Former national booters Hasanuzzaman Babloo, Sheikh Mohammed Aslam, Satyajit Das Rupu and BFF member Fazlur Rahman Babul were also present.
"As a skill enhancing game, it is loved worldwide although we have yet to join futsal family," said ex international midfielder Babul.
"FIFA had sent some 100 futsal balls to the federation three-four years earlier but the past committee did not take any initiative. We hope to take the game to schools and spread gradually," added Babul.
The floor at the venue is not in excellent condition, admitted the organisers but informed that they have taken steps to repair and maintenance or the events.
Each team would be able to have 12 players in the squad for the 5-a-side matches, which will be 30 minutes long.
BALOCH-RAHIM
SMRITI FUTSALMohammedan, Abahani, Brothers Union, Farashganj, Arambagh, Rahmatganj, Bangladesh Sports Writers Association and National Sports Council.
CITYCELL FUTSAL
GROUP A: Abahani, Sheikh Russel, Arambagh and Rahmatganj.
GROUP B: Mohammedan, Brothers, Muktijoddha, and Farashganj.