Foreigners promise to bring greater joy for Kings’ fans

CNI Desk: The new year 2021 comes with new hopes with overcoming the challenges of the previous year 2020. Like other aspects of life, the pandemic coronavirus also left a deep impact on the country's sports arena. Among the country’s popular sports, football and to be specific -- footballers and football clubs -- were hit severely by the outbreak. The last domestic season in football was abandoned and most of the clubs and footballers had undergone severe financial crisis. The long lockdown also made a negative impact on footballers’ physical and mental health.

Country’s top-tier outfit Bashundhara Kings were also hit by COVID-19 to some extend as it shattered their dream of playing in the international arena and overshadowed their memorable debut in AFC Cup 2020. The debutant Bangladeshi club beat former Dhivehi (Maldives) Premier League Champions TC Sports Club by 5-1 goals in the Group E opener at Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) on March 11 but the tournament was later abandoned due to coronavirus outbreak.

The big-budgeted club has formed a strong 29-member team this year eyeing on AFC Cup 2021. They signed four fresh foreigners -- Argentine-born Chilean forward Raul Becerra, Brazilian midfielders Jonathan da Silveira Fernandes Reis and forward Robson Azevedo da Silva Robinho, Iranian defender Khaled Shafiei in the places of previous stars including Costa Rican world-cupper and captain Daniel Colindres, Argentine national team striker Hernan Barcos, Tajik defender Akhtam Nazarov and Kyrgyz midfielder Baktyiar Duishobekov and Argentine defender Nicholas Delmonte.

 

These four new foreigners have been preparing themselves in a new country, thousands of miles away from their homelands, with a dream of securing the unmatchable success for Kings. They promised to bring happiness in the faces of Kings’ fans in the new year.

“I am very happy to be able to be wearing the Bashundhara Kings jersey and to be able to live this great professional environment here in Bangladesh. In the new year, my promise is to be able to establish myself more and more in Bashundhara and achieve the club’s goals in this season so that we can bring joy to our fans and everyone in the club,” Kings Brazilian midfielder Fernandes told The Daily Sun.

The 21-year-old Brazilian passed the first day of 2021 with his family and friends. While asking about his experiences about new year in Bangladesh, he said, “It was a very pleasant evening. I spent the new year with some companions and their families and it was a great night for us, even though we were far from our countries of origin.” 

Kings’ another Brazilian Robson Azevedo da Silva Robinho also vowed to help Kings to win all the competitions.

“The previous year was quite different for me, my first experience outside of my country, without my parents and far away from my family but I happily spent the new year. I celebrated with my teammates in Bangladesh. It was cool and we had a lot of fun. In 2021, I want to continue doing my best in my work and will help Bashundhara Kings to win the competitions,” said the 21-year-old Brazilian forward.

Another key foreign member of Kings, the Spaniard coach Oscar Bruzon, also promised to do his best for the club in this new year. The 43-year-old Spaniard passed his new year’s eve with his wife in Dhaka and ate their favorite dish together.

 

“It’s hard to be away from home for the past three years, but I have always been treated very well at this lovely Country. Bangladesh have brought me many positive experiences so far, both at life and at work.

“I have been in close touch with my family in Spain. I had a dinner with my wife to welcome the new year. Mutton Biriyani is my favorite Bangladeshi dish and Haribhanga mango is probably amongst the tastiest fruits in the world,” Oscar concluded.