AFC Uttara

Azampur Football Club Uttara (Bengali: আজমপুর ফুটবল ক্লাব উত্তরা), commonly known as AFC Uttara, is an association football club based in Azampur, Uttara, a suburb of Dhaka, Bangladesh. The club plays in the Bangladesh Premier League, having gained promotion at the end of 2021–22 Championship League season.[1][2]

AFC Uttara
Full nameAzampur Football Club Uttara
Nickname(s)AFCU
Founded2009 (2009)
GroundRafiq Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium
Capacity25,000
PresidentSaidur Rahman Manik
Head CoachAli Asgar Nasir
LeagueBangladesh Premier League
2021–22BCL, 2nd of 12 (promoted)
WebsiteClub website

History

Formation and early years

In 2009, Azampur Club was built next to the Azampur railway line by renting the land owned by Bangladesh Railway. The club is located at the end of Road No. 19, Sector 4, Uttara. Local businessmen Shahidur Rahman Manik and Md Shahadat Hossain were respectively named the club's president and secretary. The club remained inactive in the domestic football scene during the first decade since inception and much of the club's time in the lower tiers remains unrecorded.[3]

Azampur, took part in the 2018–19 Dhaka Second Division Football League, which is the fourth tier of Bangladeshi football. Although Azampur, failed to finish within the top three spots required for promotion to the Dhaka League, the club were given a direct entry to the Bangladesh Championship League, the country's second tier.

Match-fixing allegations and promotion

In preparation for the 2021–22 Bangladesh Championship League, the club appointed former Bangladesh national team forward Saifur Rahman Moni, as the head coach. Although the club were given direct entry to the secon-tier due to their facilities, it was later reported that the club house had inhumane living standards, with 15 and 14 in two rooms, used to accommodate 25 players. Azampur's inaugural match in the BCL, ended with a 3–0 victory over Wari Club.[3]

On 27 March 2022, Saifur Rahman Moni resigned from head coach duty, and imposed match-fixing allegations against the club. Moni stated that his last two games with the club, against Uttara FC (1–2) and Farashganj SC (3–1) were predetermined. After the allegations were made public, a player anonymously interviewed by Prothom Alo, admitted to the game being fixed, while Muktijoddha SKC midfielder Salahuddin Rubel, was also rumored to be involved. The club's players also accused Salahuddin Rubel of entering the clubhouse without permission.[4]

Amdist the allegations Monowar Hossain Moyna, who was appointed from matchday nine of the league season, guided the club to promotion to the Bangladesh Premier League.[5] After almost 5 months of investigating, the Bangladesh Football Federation concluded that the club were not involved with any fixed matches, thus allowing them entry into the 2022–23 Bangladesh Premier League.[6]

Players

First-team squad

As of 27 December 2022

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  BAN Jahaid Hasan Rabbi
2 DF  BAN Ashik Ahmed
3 DF  BAN Jintu Mia
4 DF  BAN Istekharul Alam Sakil (captain)
5 DF  COL José Luis Mosquera
6 MF  BAN Anik Ghosh
7 MF  BAN Sha Alamgir Anik
8 MF  BAN Mohammed Abdullah Tofel
9 FW  NGA Lukman Adefemi
10 FW  BAN Sarower Zaman Nipu
11 FW  BAN Fahim Uddin Sohel Jr
12 MF  BAN Fahim Ahmed
13 DF  BAN Rakib Sarkar
14 MF  BAN Salauddin Rubel
15 FW  BAN Mehebub Hasan Noyon
17 FW  BAN Mujahid Hossain Joy
18 MF  BAN Jayed Ahmed
19 DF  BAN Arman Sadi
No. Pos. Nation Player
20 FW  BAN Naim Uddin Noyon
21 MF  KGZ Sultanbek Momunov
22 GK  BAN Mohammed Azad Hossen
23 MF  BAN Mohamed Masum Mia
24 DF  BAN Zahidul Islam Babu
25 GK  BAN Kamal Hossain Titu
26 DF  BAN Khorshed Alam
27 DF  BAN Mohamed Sagor Miah
28 DF  BAN Arman Sadi
29 MF  BAN Hridoy Hossain
30 GK  BAN Mohammad Razib
44 DF  ANG Nzau Miguel Lutumba
50 MF  JPN Reo Nakamura
66 DF  BAN Rayhan Ahmed
70 MF  BAN Rohit Sarkar
77 MF  BAN Mohammad Shahariar Bappy
88 FW  BAN Sakib Bepari

Current technical staff

As of 7 November 2022

Position Name
Head Coach Ali Asgar Nasir
Assistant coach Monowar Hossain Moyna

Club officials

As of January 2022

Position Name
President Saidur Rahman Manik
Vice president D.M. Shamim

Head coaches' record

As of 7 February 2023
Head Coach From To P W D L GF GA %W
Shaifur Rahman Moni February 2022 27 March 2022 8 3 4 1 10 4 037.50
Monowar Hossain Moyna 28 March 2022 20 June 2022 14 8 5 1 24 10 057.14
Ali Asgar Nasir November 2022 Present 14 0 1 13 4 38 000.00

References

  1. "Azampur win in Div II Football". Daily Financial Express. 8 May 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  2. দিগন্ত, Daily Nayadiganta-নয়া. "আজমপুরে কোচ মিলন মোল্লা". Daily Nayadiganta (নয়া দিগন্ত) : Most Popular Bangla Newspaper (in Bengali). Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  3. ইসলাম, রাশেদুল. "কেউ রেল লাইনের ধারে, কেউ অন্যের ঘরে". Prothomalo.
  4. প্রতিবেদক, ক্রীড়া. "ঢাকার ফুটবলে ম্যাচ পাতানোর বিস্ফোরক অভিযোগ তুলে কোচের পদত্যাগ". Prothomalo.
  5. "ফিক্সিং অভিযোগে ষড়যন্ত্র দেখছে আজমপুর ফুটবল ক্লাব". crimepatrolbd.com - জানতে ও জানাতে চাই. 15 June 2022.
  6. Desk, Offside (9 September 2022). "সন্দেহ তালিকার শীর্ষে থাকা আজমপুর পুরোপুরি নির্দোষ!".


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