BFF elections: The councillors have betrayed people's trust, says Manik
Manik questioned the accountability of the councilors. "This is a completely unexpected result. I don't think they have any accountability to football. They have deceived the people's expectations," he said.
Former national team defender and coach Shafiqul Islam Manik took the go-alone pathway as he decided to compete for the supreme chair of the president of the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF). But he was nowhere near the two other candidates in terms of votes got. He got only one vote. He was extremely disappointed to know the result. He was really angry with the councilors having known the result.
There has been a lot of criticism. Human chains have been held in order to remove him. A lot of them called for a change. But it's Kazi Salahuddin who has been elected president of the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) for the fourth time in a row.
Out of the 135 votes, Salahuddin alone got 94. His closest competitor Badal Roy got 40. Shafiqul Islam Manik got just one vote. Manik couldn't believe the results and claimed that the councilors have deceived people's expectations.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Manik questioned the accountability of the councilors. "This is a completely unexpected result. I don't think they have any accountability to football. They have deceived the people's expectations," he said.
Manik reckons that there are many reasons behind this result. He said, "I did not get the expected result. One of the reasons why it happened is that lot happened last night."
"For instance, the return of Badal Roy. The councilors were influenced in many ways. I spoke to them before. But where did all the votes go? Did they not vote for the because I didn't pay them? What transpired in the elections is not expected at all," he added.
Manik also claimed that people don't want Salahuddin as the president. "People want a change. Even the councilors called for a change. But actually they don't want a change. They have to take the responsibility. The councilors are more responsible than the federation as far as the betterment of football is concerned," he mentioned.
Manik informed before the election that he would return to coaching if he lost. But he did not tell clearly what he would do now. "I was a footballer. Even if I lose, I have to think about the next game. I have to think about the next tournament," he signed off.
