Bangladesh Premier League champions Bashundhara Kings today announced the conclusion of its nearly two-year journey with Costa Rican footballer Daniel Colindres, citing inability to bear wages of the influential forward in off-season.

Bashundhara Kings brought a craze in domestic football in their debut in the top-flight football by roping in Colindres in September 2018. The lanky footballer drew huge attention from the spectators by displaying his brilliant techniques, skills and ability to score during his 20-month stay in Bangladesh.

Colindres, who was part of 23-member Costa Rica of 2018 Russia World Cup, had played a key role for Kings to lift the prestigious title of the professional football league as well as the Independence Cup in his debut season of 2018-19 and turned into the main architect of this season's Federation Cup triumph before the 2019-20 season was called off due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"Bangladesh Premier league was canceled this season. Daniel's contract also expired in May but the AFC Cup will resume in October. However, it is tough for us to bear his wages in this long off-period, so we announced that his contract will be concluded with the club. We will be trying to rope in the same quality or better-quality player than Colindres to replace him in the AFC Cup. We have already communicated with some players who can replace him. Let see what happens in future," Bashundhara Kings president Imrul Hasan told the reporters today.

It was learnt that Bashundhara Kings wanted to hand Colindres a short-term contract for just the AFC Cup but the Costa Rican wanted a long-term contract for next season with a high salary cap. The management of Bashundhara did not approve providing a full-season contract during the uncertainty of domestic season.  

The 35-year-old forward played 48 official matches and struck 26 goals wearing the jersey of number 26.

"If I play in Bangladesh then I will only consider playing for Bashundhara if they give me an offer again. However, I have a couple of offers from Asia as well as my own country but I don't want to disclose the names of the Asian countries," Colindres told reporters.

"I tried to improve the soccer of Bangladesh and always tried to give my best in the matches and tried to improve myself. It was actually a good journey for me in Bangladesh because I met a lot of people and saw a lot of things. We improved the national competitions and qualified Bashundhara Kings for AFC Cup," said Colindres, who is likely to leave Bangladesh on June 15.

Colindres said his best memory in Bangladesh Premier League encounter against Mohammedan SC.

"Playing a 1-1 draw against Mohammedan SC in Nilphamari was my best memory because Bashundhara Kings ensured the league title through that match and I also entered the history of Bashundhara Kings, who can't write their history without me," said a delighted Colindres, who had also enjoyed a train journey from Dhaka to Mymensingh to play a league match.

The Costa Rican believes Bangladesh football can go far like Japan and South Korea but they need to improve the good players that are already available.

"Football is all about the mentality. Bangladesh already have good players but they need to improve quality and infrastructures. The players need to be given facilities such training courts and proper gym. Bangladesh also need to work on the basics," said Colindres.