Sawpan Kumar Das

Sawpan Kumar Das is a retired Bangladeshi football player and coach. He captained the Bangladesh national football team once during his international career.[1][2][3]

Sawpan Das
Personal information
Full name Sawpan Kumar Das
Date of birth (1962-11-10) 10 November 1962
Place of birth Munshiganj, East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh)
Position(s) Left Back, Left Winger
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1976–1977 Police Football Club
1977–1979 Wari Club
1979–1980 Dhaka Wanderers
1980–1985 Mohammedan SC
1985–1988 Brothers Union
1988 Mohammedan SC
International career
1978–1980 Bangladesh U19
1978–1985 Bangladesh
Managerial career
1994 Bangladesh U16 (assistant)
2007 Chittagong Abahani
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Sawpan started playing for Police Football Club in 1976 in the Dhaka League. He then went on to play for Wari Club and Wanderers Club before joining Mohammedan SC in 1980. The high point of his career at Wari came in 1978 when he was a part of the club's famous league double (2–0 & 3–2) over the reigning champions Abahani Krira Chakra. The following year, they defeated Mohammedan SC 2–0 and were dubbed the "Giant Killers" of domestic football.

In 1984, Sawpan captained Mohammedan, however the following year he switched clubs, joining Brothers Union. In his debut season with the Oranges, they finished league runners-up. Sawpan retired in 1988 after returning to Mohammedan and finished his career with his second and final Dhaka League title.[2]

International career

In 1978, Sawpan got selected for the Bangladesh U20 team by German coach Werner Bickelhaupt, for the 1978 AFC Youth Championship held in Dhaka. His performance during the tournament convinced Bickelhaupt to give him a place in the senior national team squad, for the 1978 Asian Games. Sawpan went on to represent his country during the 1979 President's Cup in Korea, and the 1980 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, in Dhaka. However, coach Abdur Rahim did not include him in the squad for the 1980 AFC Asian Cup.[1] In 1981, Sawpan was part of the Under–20 team that took part in the 1980 AFC Youth Championship. During the tournament he was an integral part of the team, helping Bangladesh earn draws against both South Korea and Qatar. Nonetheless, the team disappointed during the other two games, and were unable to advance past the group-stage.[1]

In 1982, Sawpan returned to the senior team under coach Gafur Baloch, he was a member of a disappointing Bangladesh team which took part in the Quaid-e-Azam International Cup, in Pakistan.[4] Nonetheless, during the 1982 Asian Games, Swapan was part of the team which made history by defeating Malaysia 2–1.[5] He was made the captain of the Bangladesh Green team (B team) at the 1983 President's Gold Cup in Dhaka.[6] He represented Bangladesh in the Bangladesh President's Gold Cup in 1981, 1982 and 1983. In 1983, Sawpan played his first Merdeka Cup. During his last two years representing Bangladesh, Sawpan played the 1984 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers and 1986 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. His last international tournament was the 1985 edition of Pakistan's Quaid-e-Azam Tournament, during which he captained the team.[1]

Honours

Mohammedan SC

References
  1. "স্মৃতির পাতায় এক সময়ের দেশ সেরা লেফট ব্যাক স্বপনদাশ | Kiron's Sports Desk".
  2. Zubaear, Arafat. "মুন্সিগঞ্জে কিংসের শিরোপায় মোহামেডানের স্বপনের সুখ-দুঃখ". dhakapost.com.
  3. প্রতিবেদক, নিজস্ব. "'ভালোবেসেই কাজটা করেছি'". Prothomalo.
  4. "Quaid-E-Azam International Cup (Pakistan)". RSSSF.
  5. প্রতিবেদক, নিজস্ব. "অনুপ্রেরণা ৩২ বছর আগের স্মৃতি". Prothomalo.
  6. "৩য় প্রেসিডেন্ট গোল্ডকাপ ফুটবল প্রতিযোগিতা ১৯৮৩". May 15, 2020.
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