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 Championship League, the second level of Bangladeshi football league system.[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 Championship League
2022–23Premier League, 11th of 11 (Relegated)
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 relatively inactive in the domestic football scene during the first decade since inception and first took part in the Pioneer Football League in 2013, without finding much success.[3]

Azampur later participated in the 2018–19 Dhaka Second Division League, which is the fourth tier of Bangladeshi football. Although they failed to finish within the top three spots required for promotion to the Dhaka Senior Division 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 second-tier due to their facilities, it was later reported that the club house had inhumane living standards, with 15 and 14 beds in two rooms, used to accommodate 25 players. Azampur's inaugural match in the BCL, ended with a 3–0 victory over Kawran Bazar PS.[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 had not taken part in any fixed matches, thus allowing them entry into the 2022–23 Bangladesh Premier League.[6]

Current squad

As of 27 March 2023

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 Bangladesh BAN Jahid Hasan Rabbi
3 DF Bangladesh BAN Jintu Mia
4 DF Bangladesh BAN Istekharul Alam Shakil (captain)
6 MF Bangladesh BAN Anik Ghosh
7 MF Bangladesh BAN Shah Alamgir Anik
8 MF Bangladesh BAN Mohammed Abdullah Tofel
10 FW Bangladesh BAN Sarower Zaman Nipu
11 FW Bangladesh BAN Fahim Uddin Sohel
12 MF Bangladesh BAN Fahim Ahmed
13 DF Bangladesh BAN Rakib Sarkar
14 MF Bangladesh BAN Salauddin Rubel
15 FW Bangladesh BAN Mehebub Hasan Noyon
16 DF Bangladesh BAN Sajon Mia
17 FW Bangladesh BAN Mujahid Hossain Joy
18 MF Bangladesh BAN Jabed Ahmed
19 DF Bangladesh BAN Arman Sadi
20 FW Bangladesh BAN Naim Uddin Noyon
21 MF Kyrgyzstan KGZ Sultanbek Momunov
No. Pos. Nation Player
22 GK Bangladesh BAN Mohammed Azad Hossen
23 MF Bangladesh BAN Mohamed Masum Mia
24 DF Bangladesh BAN Zahidul Islam Babu
25 GK Bangladesh BAN Kamal Hossain Titu
26 DF Bangladesh BAN Khorshed Alam
27 DF Bangladesh BAN Mohamed Sagor Miah
29 MF Bangladesh BAN Hridoy Hossain
30 GK Bangladesh BAN Mohammad Razib
33 DF Guinea GUI Younoussa Camara
65 MF Bangladesh BAN Sajib Mia
66 DF Bangladesh BAN Rayhan Ahmed
70 MF Bangladesh BAN Rohit Sarkar
77 MF Bangladesh BAN Mohammad Shahariar Bappy
88 FW Bangladesh BAN Sakib Bepari
98 FW Colombia COL Richard Maturana
99 FW Russia RUS Alan Koroyev

Current technical staff

As of 7 November 2022

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

Club officials

As of January 2022

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

Head coaches' record

As of 21 July 2023
Head Coach From To P W D L GF GA %W
Bangladesh Saifur Rahman Moni February 2022 27 March 2022 8 3 4 1 10 4 037.50
Bangladesh Monowar Hossain Moyna 28 March 2022 20 June 2022 14 8 5 1 24 10 057.14
Bangladesh Ali Asgar Nasir November 2022 Present 26 0 5 21 13 76 000.00

References

  1. "Azampur win in Div II Football". The Financial Express. 8 May 2019. Archived from the original on 18 March 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  2. আজমপুরে কোচ মিলন মোল্লা. Daily Naya Diganta (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  3. Islam, Rashedul. কেউ রেল লাইনের ধারে, কেউ অন্যের ঘরে. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 31 December 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  4. ঢাকার ফুটবলে ম্যাচ পাতানোর বিস্ফোরক অভিযোগ তুলে কোচের পদত্যাগ. Prothom Alo (in Bengali).
  5. "ফিক্সিং অভিযোগে ষড়যন্ত্র দেখছে আজমপুর ফুটবল ক্লাব". crimepatrolbd.com - জানতে ও জানাতে চাই. 15 June 2022. Archived from the original on 31 December 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  6. Desk, Offside (9 September 2022). "সন্দেহ তালিকার শীর্ষে থাকা আজমপুর পুরোপুরি নির্দোষ!". Archived from the original on 31 December 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.


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