Faridpur:  A gala soccer event styled Khondoker Nuru Mia gold cup football tournament, introduced last year, begins Friday at the local stadium with the participation of 16 district teams of the country.

The participating teams are host and reigning champion Faridpur, Meherpur, Khulna, Shariatpur, Munshiganj, Narail, Rajbari, Satkhira, Gazipur, Chuadanga, Gopalganj, Jessore, Manikganj, Kushtia, Jhenidah and Madaripur. Last year’s runner-up Dhaka and other three teams are not playing this time “due to their preoccupations”, the organizers said.

A 28-member tournament committee with Police Super Awlad Ali Fakir and Khondoker Mohtesham Hossain Babar as Chairman and Secretary respectively has been formed to conduct the event smoothly.

The tournament will be played on knock-out basis. The champion team will get a gold cup along with Tk 5 lakh in cash while the runner-up will be given a silver cup and a cash award of Tk 2 lakh.

Labour, Employment and Expatrate Welfare Minister Khondoker Mosharraf Hossain on Friday afternoon will inaugurate the tournament, sponsored by Premiere Bank, Bangladesh. Host Faridpur will take on Meherpur in the inaugural clash.

BDST 1029 HRS. SEP 22, 2010