Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has contacted with several former international soccer heartthrobs to make them appear in Bangabandhu Gold Cup International Football Tournament in early next year.
According to sources, Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho, Dutch footballer Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten, Italian footballer Paolo Maldini and Ivorian footballer Didier Drogba are contacted for invitation at the sixth edition of the tournament.
BFF wants to start the 'Mujib Year' celebration through ceremonial draw of the tournament on Jan 4 as it is an international event named after Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
BFF General Secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag told Bangla Tribune, “We are contacting with former star players for Bangabandhu Gold Cup. Two or one of them will be present at Dhaka [during the competition].”
Shohag, however, mention no name of the soccer stars.
The Bangabandhu Gold Cup is scheduled for Jan 15 in Dhaka with the participation of six Asian countries—Sri Lanka, Laos, Cambodia, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan and hosts Bangladesh.