Home ›› 18 Sep 2022 ›› Sport
A worthy ground, top-notch facilities, and a proper club structure are features that seem to be a far cry for most Bangladeshi football clubs.
But Fortis FC, who achieved promotion to the Bangladesh Premier League last season, have managed to acquire all of these and now intend to use these as tools for a successful journey in their first season in the top flight.
Based in Badda, Dhaka, Fortis FC, since its inception in 2020, have built an academy which accommodates prospects in three age categories- Under-16, 18, and 20.
Ahead of the new season, Fortis FC is committed to using their academy prospects to mark their maiden BPL season.
President of Fortis FC, Shahin Hasan, revealed his vision of investing in the academy to bring out prospects for the main team.
“We are very committed to the development of youth football via our academy. I always talk about a five-year plan. If we can bring out players from our academy and nurture them accordingly, they can serve the main team well. And in the process, by bringing out at least five players from Fortis FC, I can contribute to the national team too,” he told the Business Post on Saturday.
“It is difficult for a team to spend Tk 10 crores every season. If I can establish five players in the main team from the academy, then in five years I can sell them for Tk 2.5 crores,” he said about the business side of things.
The club, since its formation, have only seen improvements as they finished third in the 2020-21 Bangladesh Championship League (second tier) and came back in the following season to win the competition, guaranteeing promotion to the BPL.
Hasan revealed that their biggest strength is the Fortis Ground. The Fortis Ground in Badda is a sight to see with modern facilities. With a very well-maintained field, the ground currently boasts a resort, consisting of a gym and a swimming pool, open to the players and can be rented out by anyone.
“To be honest, I strongly believe that having such a field is my biggest strength because it allows me to do so much for the team and the academy. We don’t have to go to anyone for access to a field. There is no uncertainty,” he said.
It’s not all words as Fortis FC organised a couple of open trials in Dhaka and Chattogram to scout for prospects earlier this year. According to Hasan, the Dhaka trial saw 6,000 aspirants, while 4,000 participated in Chattogram.
From there, selected candidates were enlisted in their academy. The club is going out of its way to give the selected few one-year contracts that ensure accommodation in their dormitory, food, football education, and allowance.
Hasan believes that having an academy is paramount for developing youth football but also acknowledged that it doesn’t mean much if players can’t make the leap or progress to the first team.
“We have a proper academy, yes, but I believe that it won’t matter much if we fail to bring players through,” he told the Business Post. “I have five players playing in the Under-20 Bangladesh national team. Several U-16 players are on loan at Abahani, Mohammedan, and Bangladesh Police FC. So, it’s got to be result oriented as well.”
For their maiden BPL season, Fortis have gone in for proven Premier League players instead of bringing in big names. Hasan said he intends to bank on the regular PL players in combination with additions from the academy. He added they will remain measured in recruiting foreign players for the upcoming season as he vies for a top-half finish.
“We didn’t go for big names. Instead, we will focus on recruiting players who have played 14-15 BPL matches every season and of course, use our academy for players. In addition, if our foreign recruits manage to give us adequate service, then we can finish fourth or fifth,” he told the Business Post.
It is too early to determine how Fortis FC will fare in the top flight, but the signs are significantly positive, especially for a newly-promoted side. They seem to be going in the right direction, having done a lot more footballing activities than most top-flight clubs. While new clubs like Saif Sporting Club have successfully managed to make their mark in the BPL, it remains to be seen how Fortis FC responds to the demands of the top flight.
