Topics Archives - ABPL 2022

ABPL 2023: Thrilling Showdown and Honors Galore on the Final Day!

Austin BD Soccer — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 01:18:07 +0000

On the last Sunday of July, the much-awaited conclusion of the Austin Bangladeshi Premier League (ABPL) took place with two riveting matches. The day witnessed Austin United South facing off against Leander FC, and RRP FC locking horns with Austin Arsenal. The teams battled fiercely to claim their positions on the leaderboard and secure their place in ABPL history.

In the first game, Austin United South, already the champions from the previous week’s victory, locked horns with Leander FC, who boasted a formidable squad. The match was intense and competitive from start to finish. Leander took the lead in the first half when Omee’s shot deflected off an opponent and found the back of the net. In the second half, Raihan and Liton further extended Leander’s advantage with a goal each, while Saad managed to net one for Austin United South. Despite their efforts, the champions were unable to secure a victory, as Leander emerged triumphant.

The second match of the day between Austin Arsenal and RRP FC was a nail-biting affair. The goalkeepers, Munir for RRP FC and Arsenal’s captain Rubayet, showcased exceptional skills, making remarkable saves to keep the game level. Ishmam’s well-placed shot gave Arsenal the lead (1-0), but RRP FC’s Dalim responded with a long-range effort that found the net (1-1).

The final day's results saw Leander FC leapfrogging RRP FC to secure the second position, while Austin Arsenal concluded the season at the bottom of the table.

ABPL 2023

Both teams mounted several attacking moves, but stout defenses and outstanding goalkeeping prevented further goals. Faiyaz of Arsenal missed a one-on-one opportunity against keeper Munir, leaving the final score at a deadlock.

With these results, RRP FC secured the third position on the leaderboard, while last year’s runner-up, Austin Arsenal, found themselves at the bottom. Leander FC’s victory over Austin United South elevated them to the second spot.

At the conclusion of the thrilling matches, Austin United South players were honored with the championship awards. Additionally, the top three goal scorers of the league, Sabbir Jr., Raihan, and Liton, were celebrated with the prestigious ABPL top goal scorers’ awards.

Throughout the season, a total of four teams represented Austin’s Bangladeshi community: Austin Arsenal (North Austin), Leander FC, Round Rock-Pflugerville FC, and Austin United South. The ABPL has captivated the players and residents of Austin’s Bangladeshi community, garnering immense attention and interest.

As the ABPL 2023 concludes, we express our heartfelt gratitude to all the teams, players, and organizers who made this season a remarkable success. ABPL has undoubtedly brought the community together, and we eagerly look forward to another exciting edition in the future!

The post ABPL 2023: Thrilling Showdown and Honors Galore on the Final Day! appeared first on ABPL 2022.

Top Muslim Soccer Players

Austin BD Soccer — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 21:19:31 +0000

Soccer is one of the most egalitarian and engaging sport in the world, representing players from all nationalities and with different religious background. With an estimated 3.5bn fans, football (soccer) is the undisputed most watched sport on the planet. It doesn’t matter whether you are black or white, rich or poor, Muslim or Christian, soccer is a beautiful game for everyone. Many Muslim football players have been contributing to football over a long history. Their spectacular performance dazzle their fans.

Muslim soccer stars come from different countries and even different continents around the world. Some are of French descent and some are of Turkish descent, like many German players whose parents or grandparents immigrated to Central Europe after World War II. Some other notable players have converted to Islam, such as Franck Ribery, former France International player.

In no particular order here are 10 of the best Muslim football players in the world.

Karim Benzema (Real Madrid, France)

As one of the most popular Muslim players in Europe, Karim Mostafa Benzema was born on the 19 December 1987 in Lyon. He is a French professional footballer who plays as a striker for Spanish club Real Madrid and the France national team.

Benzema has been described as a talented striker who is both strong and a potent finisher on the pitch. Benzema secured 3 Champions League won in 2017, 2016, and 2014 in the final match with Real Madrid.

As a practicing Muslim, Benzema observes fasting during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. His grandfather, Da Lakehal Benzema, lived in the village of Tigzirt, located in the northern town of Beni Djellil in Algeria before migrating to Lyon, where he eventually settled in the 1950s.

Benzema’s father, Hafid, was born in Tigzirt, while his mother, Wahida Djebbara, was born and raised in Lyon. Benzema is the third youngest in the family and grew up with eight other siblings in Bron, an eastern suburb of Lyon.

His younger brothers Gressy and Sabri are also footballers. In 2014, his daughter Mélia was born and his son Ibrahim was born in 2017.

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, Egypt)

Mohamed Salah, born 15 June 1992, is an Egyptian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club and the Egypt national team. Considered one of the best players in the world, he is known for his finishing, dribbling, and speed.

Salah has been a revelation for the club, winning the Premier League golden boot in both of his campaigns and playing a leading role in the 2019 Champions League triumph, scoring the opening goal in the final from the penalty spot.

Playing for Liverpool and Egypt as a right-winger/striker, Salah is renowned for his intricate dribbling and fantastic finishing which saw him break the single-season record of goals in the 2017/18 season with 32 goals and 10 assists.

Sadio Mane (Liverpool FC, Senegal)

Sadio Mane, born 10 April 1992, is a Senegalese professional footballer who plays as a winger for Premier League club Liverpool and the Senegal national team.

The Muslim superstar was one of the most expensive signings of the 2016/17 season. The Senegal man was one of the best players in the Premier League last season and Mane credited religion with playing a huge role in his success.

In an earlier interview, Mane spoke about the importance of Islam in his life: “Religion is very important to me. I respect the rules of Islam and I pray five times a day, always. I won’t touch alcohol. There was no conflict between religion and the fact that I wanted to play football. I was brought up correctly and in the right way and my parents are proud of the fact that I am a footballer.”

Playing as left winger/striker for Liverpool and Senegal, Sadio Mane is widely known as a complete player with his finishing, pace, and ability to shoot with either foot. In the 2019 Ballon d’Or, Sadio Mane ranked 4th and has formed a great relationship with teammates Mohammad Salah and Roberto Firmino, helping Liverpool win the Champions league in 2019 and Premier league in 2020.

Paul Pogba (Manchester United, France)

Paul Labile Pogba, born 15 March 1993, is a French professional footballer who plays for Premier League club Manchester United and the French national team.

Pogba was born in Lagny-sur-Marne, Seine-et-Marne, to Guinean parents. His mother practiced Islam but did not raise her three sons to be Muslim. However the Manchester United midfielder connected with religion as an adult through friends, and says Islam is often misunderstood.

In an interview on LifeTimes podcast, the footballer revealed he turned to Islam when he was “questioning himself over a lot of things” which made him “more peaceful inside.”

“It made me change, realize things in life … It was a good change in my life because I wasn’t born a Muslim, even if my mum was. I just grew up like that, respect for everyone,” he said.

Representing the French national team, Pogba was integral to the French midfield in their 2018 World Cup run which saw them champion.

Mesut Özil (Fenerbahçe, Germany)

Mesut, born 15 October 1988, is a German professional footballer who used to play for the Premier League club Arsenal as an attacking midfielder. He is currently playing for Turkish team Fenebahce. He can also be deployed as a winger.

He is well-known for his technical skills and creativity, agility, finesse, and versatility as an attacking midfielder. He won World Cup with Germany team in 2014 and played in three consecutive World Cup from 2010 to 2018. On club level, he won La Liga multiple times with Real Madrid (Spain) and FA Cup with Arsenal (England).

Özil is a practicing Muslim. He recites from the Quran before his matches. He said, “I always do that before I go out [on the pitch]. I pray and my teammates know that they cannot talk to me during this brief period.”

He observes fasting during the Islamic month of Ramadan, but he has admitted that: “Because of my job I cannot follow Ramadan properly. I do it only the few days I can, only when I have a free day. But other than that it’s impossible, because you have to drink and eat a lot to stay at peak fitness.”

Edin Dzeko (Roma, Bosnia and Herzegovina)

As another top Muslim footballer, Edin Dzeko is born on the 17thg of March 1986. The Bosnian professional footballer plays as a striker for Seria A club Roma and the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team, captaining both teams. He won English Premier League with Manchester City in 2010-11.

The Bosnian striker has been successful wherever he has played especially for Bundesliga club Wolfsburg, Premier League side Manchester City and his current side AS Roma.

An absolute superstar in his home country of Bosnia, Dzeko is also multilingual and capable of speaking 4 languages – Bosnian, Czech, German and English fluently. He is also involved in plenty of charitable ventures and even became his country’s first UNICEF ambassador.

Granit Xhaka (Arsenal, Switzerland)

Granit Xhaka, born 27 September 1992, is a Swiss professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Arsenal and captains the Swiss national team.

Xhaka was born in the city of Basel, Switzerland into an Albanian family from Kuršumlija, then part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, now Serbia.

His father Ragip was a political prisoner. At the age of 22, as a student at University of Pristina, he was arrested for participating in a 1986 student demonstration against the central government in Belgrade, and served three and a half years of a six-year prison sentence before being released in 1990. Their family moved from Podujevo, District of Pristina to Switzerland that year.

His older brother, Taulant Xhaka, is a professional footballer and plays for FC Basel and the Albania national team.

Xhaka was part of the Swiss team that won the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He made his senior debut in 2011 and has won 100 caps, representing the nation at the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and 2018, UEFA European Championship in 2016 and 2022.

Emre Can (Borussia Dortmund, Germany)

Emre Can, born 12 January 1994, is a German professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Borussia Dortmund on loan from Italian club Juventus, and the Germany national team. Can was born in Frankfurt but his parents are Turkish.

In 2013, he was signed by Liverpool for £9.75 million where he made over 150 appearances across all competitions before joining Juventus in 2018. In 2020 he joined Borussia Dortmund, initially on a loan before moving on a permanent deal a few weeks later.

Ngolo Kante (Chelsea, France)

Ngolo Kante is one of soccer’s fastest-rising stars in the world, currently playing for Chelsea. His first major win was when Chelsea defeated Manchester City in 2021 to win the UEFA Champions League. He became the man of the match by having a stellar game, including a goal and a brilliant assist. This was Kante’s first season with Chelsea after moving from Leicester City, winning the Premier League in 2020. He has since become a key player for the team.

He was born in Paris to Malian parents who migrated to France from Mali in 1980. In addition to being a talented soccer player, Ngolo Kante is also a practicing Muslim. He prays at least five times each day, studies Arabic, and regularly gives to charity.

Franck Ribery (Salernitana., France)

Franck Henry Pierre Ribéry, born in April 7, 1983, is a French professional footballer who currently plays for and captains Serie A club Salernitana. However, the highlights of his career including nine Bundesliga title and one UEFA championship with Bayern Munich. He also played for France in two World Cups and two Euro championships.

As one of the greatest wingers of all time, Ribery converted to Islam in 2002 after being inspired by his wife Wahiba who is of Algerian descent. So, he is among those footballers who have converted to Islam. He also added the name Bilal after his conversion.

Speaking about his conversion from Christianity to Islam, Ribery said – “Religion is my personal thing. I am a believer and since I converted to Islam, I think, I became stronger, I became mentally and physically stronger. Religion did not change my personality or my perception of the world. I pray five times a day, I do it because it enables me to be released and I feel better afterwards”

The post Top Muslim Soccer Players appeared first on ABPL 2022.

FIFA Launches FIFA+ To Bring Soccer Entertainment to Fans

Austin BD Soccer — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 15:13:43 +0000

FIFA is excited to announce the launch of FIFA+, a world-class digital platform created to connect soccer (/Football) fans across the globe more deeply with the game they love, for free.

Launched on April 12th, FIFA+ will provide access to live soccer matches from every corner of the world, interactive games, news, tournament information, ground-breaking, unrivalled video content delivering truly global storytelling around the men’s and women’s game and much more. FIFA is the first sports federation ever to offer such an extensive streaming and content experience to its fans.

“FIFA+ represents the next step in our vision to make football (soccer) truly global and inclusive, and it underpins FIFA’s core mission of expanding and developing football globally,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “This project represents a cultural shift in the way different types of football fans want to connect with and explore the global game and has been a fundamental part of my Vision 2020-2023. It will accelerate the democratization of football and we are delighted to share it with fans.”

Visit FIFA+

Live Matches

By the end of 2022, FIFA+ will be streaming the equivalent of 40,000 live games per year from 100 Member Associations across all six confederations, including 11,000 women’s matches. FIFA+ offers live coverage from Europe’s topflight leagues to previously unserved competitions from around the world in men’s, women’s and youth football. From launch, 1,400 matches will be live streamed monthly on FIFA+, rising rapidly.

Match Center, News & Gaming

The Match Centre will allow football fans to immerse themselves in rich football data across 400 men’s competitions and 65 women’s competitions. A daily feed of news from around the world of men’s and women’s football will also complement and offer additional updates. Throughout the year, fans will enjoy interactive games including votes, quizzes, fantasy games and predictors.

FIFA+ Originals

FIFA+ will also provide unrivalled content delivering global storytelling around the men’s and women’s game. It will feature full-length documentaries, docuseries, talk shows and shorts – localised into 11 languages, telling stories from local grassroots to national teams and footballing heroes past and present from more than 40 countries.

The content on the FIFA+ platform will continue to grow and evolve in 2022, providing fresh, globally relevant as well as localised content across the year.

From launch, FIFA+ will be available across all web and mobile devices, and across a range of connected devices soon. It will be available in five language editions (English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish), with an additional six languages to follow in June of 2022.

The post FIFA Launches FIFA+ To Bring Soccer Entertainment to Fans appeared first on ABPL 2022.

The Most Effective Training Programs

hussaintouhid — Mon, 28 Mar 2022 15:28:50 +0000

The dribbling soccer drills on this page aim to help you coach your players in running with the ball at their feet, beating players with their skill and pace. This is a core soccer skill and we look at the fine details of the techniques required to dribble like Messi or Gareth Bale. We have games and exercises to help your players become master dribblers.

DRIBBLE TO SCORE

A fast game to develop the ability of your players to dribble into the area at speed and create goal-scoring chances. This game helps to get your players dribbling past defenders and shooting at goal. It will help your players win 1v1s and get them finishing off good moves.

SET UP

Set up a playing area 40×40 yards with a smaller 30×30-yard area inside it. We’re using eight players for the session. You need balls, bibs, cones and four mini goals.

HOW TO PLAY IT

Play a 3v3 with two floating players who play for the attacking team. Play takes place inside the smaller area and players must dribble into the larger square but then attack the opposite end – play must then go back through the smaller square and be dribbled out to where players can then score.

TECHNIQUE

This is good for fast dribbling and game-like play. Very relevant in an individual development context, it should be part of every coach’s training schedule. Players need to build confidence on the ball and take that confidence into the match with them. It also helps players learn how to turn with the ball when in possession.

1. Players must dribble into the larger goal zone and then attack the other end – players can only get into the larger area by dribbling the ball in
2. A goal can be scored once play has reached the opposite end and the ball is dribbled in

3. Here the attacking team makes use of the two floating players by dribbling into the goal zone and scoring in the net
4. The defenders must try and win the ball before the attacking team can get into the larger zone so they can become the attackers

5. Progress the session by allowing one defender to go into the goal zone when the attacker is dribbling in

The post The Most Effective Training Programs appeared first on ABPL 2022.

Players To Watch In 2022

Austin BD Soccer — Fri, 04 Mar 2022 21:55:05 +0000

As we moved in to 2022, we are all looking forward to an exciting soccer season. This year, for the first time, the players will experience something new – a soccer league known as ABPL 2022. This ensures that players will have a chance to prove themselves before they go for draft for the annual soccer tournament, Austin’s biggest sports attraction for Bangladeshi community members. Many new players have moved into Austin since last soccer tournament. We are expecting to see some great soccer talents among them.

Below we look at some of the best BD soccer talents of Austin.

Rahil Islam: Austin’s hottest prospect and already regarded as the “Messi of Austin BD Soccer”, Rahil Islam is an attacking midfielder capable of playing on either flank or through the middle. When deployed out wide, the high school senior can utilize his speed to get in to in any position. Despite being small in stature and lightweight, as you would expect for a player of his age, Rahil’s best attributes are his pace and dribbling. He can cause defenders problems and evade challenges with dribbling, acceleration, and agility.

Niraf Islam: A traditional right winger, Niraf is an accomplished crosser of the ball and thrives in wide areas. Capable of beating defenders with with pace and dribbling, the young winger has multiple strings to his bow and therefore provides a huge threat for the opposition. He is dangerous on counter attack with sprint speed and acceleration. Niraf was on his peak form in 2018 and 2019 Austin BD soccer tournament when his team won the championship on both occasions.

Abu Masud: While it is safe to say that his best days are behind him as he approaches the final gambits of his career, he still remains as one of the lethal tools of Austin BD soccer. Abu Masud has evolved from pacey winger to talismanic midfielder and remains one of the best in business when it comes to keeping his cool and scoring goals. There are few better players in Austin BD soccer at picking the ball up out wide and driving across the box at speed.

Anuj: Anuj has been magnificent since exploding onto the Austin BD soccer scene. He is one of the best crossers in Austin BD soccer and has played some of the most outrageous passes you are ever likely to see. On top of creating goals, he is also capable of scoring goals himself. Anuj is known for range and accuracy, as well as for his dribbling skills. He is also known for his ability to dictate play in the midfield or set up goals with his passing. He led his team.

Munir: Munir is one of the best goalkeepers of Austin and was in great form last year. Munir has also been praised for his excellent ball control and for his ability to produce crucial saves, as well as his positioning, distribution and consistency. He possess significant athleticism, as well as strong reflexes, agility, shot-stopping abilities, distribution, and a good mentality.

Oli: Considered as the best defender in Austin, physically strong, right-footed center-back, who usually features on the left-hand side of central defense, due to being comfortable at passing the ball with both feet. He has earned plaudits for his leadership, athleticism, technical prowess, and his ability to excel both offensively and defensively, Oli is very calm on the ball too and rarely finds himself in a heap of pressure.

Sahil: The Texas State student plays as a forward but is capable of playing in several attacking position. He was one of the best new comers in 2018 Austin BD Soccer tournament and played impressively well in last year’s tournament as well. He can dribble, shoot, he has a great shot, he can play a lot of through balls and his assists are very good as well. He was the first pick for his team TX Warriors in 2021 Austin BD Soccer Tournament.

Polin: Like a fine wine, Polin has only improved as he’s aged. He might not be the quickest out of the blocks anymore, but his supreme reading ability of the game to gobble up opposition defense still proves that he is one of the best midfielders in Austin soccer.

Mona: Mona is predominantly deployed as a central defender but can also play as a right-sided attacking full-back or wing-back. He is tactically and technically adept and capable of playing long accurate passes from defense. He has a disappointing 2021 season in Austin BD Soccer tournament, but he is still regarded as one of the best defenders of Austin BD soccer.

Sunny: Sunny is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders Austin BD Soccer, and pundits have often described him as a “complete footballer”. He plays mainly as a central or an attacking midfielder but can also operate in several other positions, and has been used as a winger or second striker; He is speedy and often uses his strength to go pass other players. Sometimes he can get explosive by combining his strength, creativity and tireless energy.

The post Players To Watch In 2022 appeared first on ABPL 2022.

Year in review 2021

Austin BD Soccer — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 18:49:12 +0000

2021 for Austin BD Soccer was beautiful, touching an uplifting, quite soon after the 2020 Covid outbreak. Like all other things in life, the small soccer group of Austin’s Bangladeshi community were impacted by Covid in 2020. Few players took the field on the first Sunday after day-light saving started in March (2020), but that was it. There was no soccer for the rest of the year. But players decided to get back into the field wearing masks in the following year March (2021) again. During that time, the vaccination just started. There were not too many players though. Only 12-15 players played till Ramadan.

However, after Ramadan, the scenario was completely different. Most were vaccinated by then. On first Sunday after Ramadan, a lot of players came back to field. On the following Sunday, there was an influx of players at Williamson County soccer field (Wilco), with quite a good number of brand-new players. Summer soccer of Austin’s BD community suddenly reached its peak. It looks like soccer gave a collective sigh of relief after a year-long hiatus due to Covid.

However, with too many players showing up on the same day, it became difficult to accommodate too many players in the same ground. Due to lack of logistics, games continued but there were frustrations among players. Players coming from South at one point decided to play soccer in the South field on every Wednesday. But they also experienced similar problems. Despite all, game continued every Sunday (at Wilco) and every Wednesday in the South (Small Middle School field).

During the summer, some players from North, led by Mehedi Khan, formed a club of their own called Austin Bandits and signed up to player in a leader based 7vs7 soccer league for players of 30 years of age. It was completely a brand new experience for many players. Although the team didn’t do well, but most played enjoyed being part of the team. The team was managed by Austin BD’s star soccer player Abu Masud, who wasn’t playing at that time due to injury.

In the meantime, Austin’s BD-Soccer Tournament committee started planning for the tournament though some uncertainty remained due to rise of Covid cases around that time. The committee decided to include six teams for the annual soccer tournament (which would the highest number of participating teams tournament’s history). The draft took place on July 31^st and the tournament was held between September 12^th and October 3^rd. All games of this tournament took place at Round Rock Multi-Purpose Complex (RRMC) soccer field, which has one of the best soccer grounds of Austin. Team Austin Powers, managed by Ehtesham Haq (Liton) and Nipu won the Championship. Teams star players were Rahil, Anuj, Munir (GK) and Zahedul. Other players of the teams were Ethan, Sushan, Khwaja, Kibria, Mukul, Mukit, Sabuj, Faisal Bashar, Wali sr, Aayan and Rashedul Islam. It should be noted that the tournament has seen a lot of new stars and young rising soccer players of Austin’s BD Community.

Also, during the year, Austin BD team took preparation for playing a match against Houston’s BD team in Houston, TX. However, due to covid situation (in Houston) the game was postponed.

Overall, the year 2021 was an amazing year for Austin’s BD soccer community. There were so many memorable moments we have experienced together. We whole heartedly welcomed all the new players (both who moved in Austin from out of state and our second generation who participated in our tournament for the first time). Together we can continue to grow and enjoy the beautiful game together in 2022.

The post Year in review 2021 appeared first on ABPL 2022.

Illustrated History of Austin BD Soccer

Austin BD Soccer — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 21:40:00 +0000

It all started somewhere back in the late eighties when some Bangladeshi students from UT Austin decided to play soccer at least once or twice a week amid their busy schedules. They were all young kids then and relatively new in the country and chose soccer to create a sense of community as soccer helped them to bring everyone together. As you all know, back then, there was no internet, and it was not easy to make phone calls back home. There were no iPhone, no WhatsApp, no Viber or FB. The students formed a team and called it Team BSA (Bangladesh Students Association). They participated at UT’s Intramural Sports, which had a soccer league then. Some notable first Team players’ were Syed Rahman Rana, Abu Sayed, Mostafiz Rahman Mithu, Hasan Taufique Sohel, Ashif Mahmud Rubel, Khoshru, Tony and others. They used to play at UT’s IF (Intramural Fields) near 45^th street.

After they graduated, they continued playing regularly and choose a field in Austin’s Far West area to play soccer from 1994. By that time, many new students and professionals moved to Austin. They mostly played during weekdays, once or twice a week. During 1994’s World Cup time, many of them gathered to watch the game at Quamrul Mina’s place, who himself was a soccer player then. It was right after the final game (between Brazil and Italy) of the World Cup, some of them decided to organize a match between Austin’s (Bangladeshi) Brazil’s Supporters vs Italy’s Supporters. That’s when the idea of getting blue and yellow jerseys first came up. Even now when we ask folks to join for Sunday soccer, we ask them to bring either blue or yellow jerseys to divide the players between the teams by their jersey color.

It was back in June 1997 when the first Austin BD Soccer Tournament took place, hosted by the Bangladesh Students Association (BSA) of UT Austin. It had wide participation by the Bangladeshi Community in all of Austin. Five soccer teams participated in the tournament and the festivity surrounding it and the tournament quality indeed made it a very enjoyable and successful event. The team named Sreshto, managed by Quamrul Mina, won the championship. A total of 55 players participated in that tournament. Each team were owned by two women and a coach-manager was assigned to each team. The tournament was sponsored by Tokyo Autos and Pragma Systems, two business based in Austin. All the games took place at sprawling UT Intramural soccer fields.

Drafting of the players and the way teams were formed was quite interesting. Each team were allocated ten thousand points and they had to use these points judiciously to select the players who were ranked in eleven groups of five players in each level. A minimum of 500 points had to be spent for a player. So, if a team bought a star player with lots of points, they will have fewer points to pick players from other level. Highest bidder for a player got the player. This drafting rule made the teams generally of equal strength.

All the teams participated in that tournament did it with good spirit and sportsmanship. The organizing committee members were Rana, Rubel, Faisal and Zia-Nasser. It was a very well organized tournament and it opened the door for future tournaments in soccer and in other sports.

Some of the prominent players of Austin BD Soccer during 90s era were Abid, Simon, Hero jr, Tuhin, Rubel, Rana, Faisal, Sohel, Saiful Islam, Nasim Uddin, Jami, Hero sr. During that Austin BD team started playing matches against Houston BD and Dallas BD teams.

Austin BD Soccer has been around for a long time, and it will continue to stay for a lot longer. The growth that Austin’s BD community have seen in recent years is phenomenal. Some of the senior players (from 90s era) are still playing, while some joins during the tournament to manage/coach teams. We have a long road ahead of us, but the passion of the players, former players and friends are quite remarkable. The soccer in Austin have gained lots of support from the community and it can do great things to make Austin BD soccer even more successful.

The post Illustrated History of Austin BD Soccer appeared first on ABPL 2022.

Qatar`s World Cup Stadiums

Austin BD Soccer — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 21:45:07 +0000

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be ground breaking in a number of ways when the first ball is kicked at the Al Bayt Stadium on Nov. 21.

Being held in the Middle East — as part of FIFA’s pledge to host a major tournament in the region — Qatar 2022 will bring the biggest international football showpiece to the Arab world for the first time.

Al thumama Stadium

Located 12km south of Doha, Al Thumama stadium’s design weaves Arab culture through its facade, drawing inspiration from the woven patterns of a Gahfiya, the traditional head piece worn by Muslim men in the Arabian region. In addition to its design, the area surrounding the project explores the importance of ecological and contextual architecture, targeting Global Sustainability Assessment System Trust (GSAS) 4-star certification for both design and construction. The stadium ensures the saving of 40% more fresh water compared to a conventional stadium, using recycled water to irrigate green areas. 50,000 sqm of park area is integrated within the design, using native trees to cover 84% of the landscape. The stadium was inaugurated during the 49th Amir Cup Final on 22 October 2021.

Al Janoub Stadium

Back in 2013, Zaha Hadid Architects were selected to work alongside AECOM for the design and construction of Al Janoub Stadium (perviously known as Al Wakrah Stadium). Built in Al Wakrah, one of the oldest inhabited areas of the south of Doha and nestled within a rich cultural site with profound archeological heritage, the design is inspired by the city’s history of pearl diving, fishing, and traditional dhow boats. The 40,000-seat stadium opened on 16 May 2019, coinciding with the Amir Cup final. After the World Cup, the stadium’s capacity will be reduced to 20,000 attendees, whereas the other 20,000 seats will be donated to football development projects overseas. Hospitality and recreation facilities, as well as a school, event hall, cycling, horse riding, and running tracks are some of the new amenities that are currently being developed alongside the stadium to ensure its use on the long run.

Al Bayt Stadium

Inspired by traditional nomadic tents, the 60,000-capacity stadium is set to host the opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2022 and fixtures up until the semi-finals. Located in the northern city of Al Khor, a city famous for its pearl diving and fishing which has invited desert-dwellers to the coast throughout the years, the stadium’s design honors Qatar’s past and present, highlighting the city’s culture, traditions, and history. Similar to nomad’s tents, the upper tier of the modular design seating is portable, and will be removed following the championship, and given to developing nations in need of sporting infrastructure. The stadium’s design was revealed mid 2014 by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) and Aspire Zone Foundation, and was inaugurated early 2020, coinciding with Qatar’s National Sports Day..

Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium

Home to one of Qatar’s most celebrated football teams in the city of Al Rayyan, the Ahmad bin Ali stadium celebrates its close-knit community by incorporating symbols of the Qatari culture and traditions. One of the main design features is the undulating façade, made of patterns that characterize different aspects of the country, such as “the importance of family, the beauty of the desert, the native flora and fauna, as well as local and international trade”. 40,000 fans will be protected via a lightweight canopy and advanced cooling systems, ensuring optimum comfort during the matches. Labeled as the “gateway to the desert”, the stadium opened its doors in December 2020 during the Amir Cup final.

Education City Stadium

Situated within a vibrant center of knowledge and innovation, the Education City Stadium is surrounded by academic facilities and sports organizations. Due to its particular location in Education City, the structure has been carefully designed with a great focus on accessibility. During construction, excavators uncovered rocks that date back 20-30 million years, which forced them to dig 17 meters further down, so the pitch can sit below sea level where temperatures are cooler. The façade features triangular patterns, a reimagination of traditional arabesque patterns, that appear to change color during the day following the sun’s movement across the sky. The design was revealed in 2014, and was complete and open to the public in 2020.

Stadium 974

Considered as one of the most innovative stadium designs of all 8 structures, Stadium 974, previously known as Ras Abou Aboud, is inspired by Qatar’s international trade and seafaring. The number “974” is highly significant for the project as well, as it is the international dialing code for Qatar, as well as the number of shipping containers used in its construction. The structure is located on the shore across Doha’s West Bay skyline. Since it’s mainly made of shipping containers, the 40,000-capacity stadium will be entirely demounted upon completion of the World Cup, and used as a waterfront development for the local community. The stadium was inaugurated on 20 November 2021, via a digital launch.

Khalifa International Stadium

Built in 1976 in Al Rayyan, the Khalifa International Stadium has long been one of the most notable stadiums, having hosted the Asian Games, the Arabian Gulf Cup and the AFC Asian Cup, among other events. For this event, the stadium is expanded to accommodate 40,000 fans and equipped with an “innovative cooling technology” that will allow players to compete at a comfortable environment. The structure sees an addition of a single roof to shelter the seating areas, along with a new east wing structure that will host food courts, shops, multi-purpose rooms, VIP lounges, museum, and a health center. The reopening ceremony took place in 2017.

Lusail Stadium

The 80,000-capacity Lusail Stadium, the largest of all 8 structures, will be hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 final. The design is inspired by the interplay of light and shadow seen in the Fanar lantern. The structural form and façade echo the intricate motifs of art and furniture pieces found across the Arab and Islamic world during early civilizations. Due to its prominent locations in Lusail, a newly built metropolis, the master planning of the stadium features a tram system, and lush green spaces, turning it into a sustainability-focused arena that focuses on human needs and environmental conservation. Once the event is over, it will be transformed into a multi-purpose community hub with schools, shops, cafés, sporting facilities, and health clinics. The stadium was inaugurated end of 2021.

The post Qatar`s World Cup Stadiums appeared first on ABPL 2022.