DHAKA: Bangladeshi newspapers on Friday welcomed the start of the Bangladesh Professional Football League, saying it would mark the beginning of a new chapter in the history of football in the country. Leading English daily The Daily Star carried front-page stories in a special pullout about the opening match between local giants Abahani Dhaka and Muktijodha Sangsad. The match will kick off at 5.50pm local time at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. “Football’s new beginning”, said The Daily Star headline with a noted columnist writing: “Football goes professional in the country today with Abahani and Muktijodha all set to make history with their opener.” The newspaper also wrote about the teams’ preparations for the inaugural match.

The launch has got widespread coverage across the country in both English and Bengali dailies.

Another English daily New Age dwelt at length on the country’s foray into professional football in an article headlined ‘Abahani, Muktis make history today’. The News Today carried a lengthy preview under the headline “Abahani, Muktijoddha ready for showdown”. One of the leading Bengali dailies Prothom Alo said: “The Match between Abahani and Muktijodha will be the start of a new era for Bangladeshi football.”

All the newspapers carried profiles of the players and coaches.