Tabith Awal has become the new president of BAUFFE. After being elected, he came to Bauffe Bhavan for the first time today. Apart from the meeting with the staff, there was an exchange of greetings with the SAFF Champions women's team. At the end, he answered various questions in front of the media.
At the beginning, Tabith said, 'Today we got to know all the staff at Buff, from the top to the cleaners. There was also a quick exchange between them. Afterwards we exchanged greetings with the recently victorious women's footballers and talked about some plans for the coming days. But not much was discussed. In the coming days we will sit more seriously with the executive committee and sub-committees. Today there was a social gathering among all.'
The first meeting of the executive committee on November 9. In front of that meeting, Tabith said, 'Today I did not have any important discussion with anyone. At the executive committee meeting on the 9th we will move on to important discussions. It's a game, nothing to be taken seriously. We want to take the next four years forward with a player mentality, we have come with a message of that.'
About the Saf Champion team, he said, 'Women footballers definitely deserve something for being Saf Champions. We will do something about their merit and success by approving it in the executive committee. No decision has been made now, which will be done in the executive committee meeting. I will let you know if the committee approves.
The current committee includes the old with the new. Tabith hopes to move forward with them, 'Four years ago I left the federation in October. I came again after four years. Some of the previous committee have been elected with me. Along with them some new faces have come to the Federation for the first time. And some like me have come back from a term or two abroad. I think we are going to use three such experiences in the next four years. It will surely bring us success. We are very much looking forward to working together.'
Comparing Bafufe Bhavan with his own home, Tabith said, 'I feel very good coming to Bafufe Bhavan, I feel like I have come back to my home. Coming back to a time when I was able to come to a champion team, that definitely makes me proud. At the same time, it has thrown a challenge. Because of such a standard when the new committee took responsibility. I hope that after four years we will go to a better position than this standard, the players will also improve.
Tabith did not want to say anything about the experience of being the new president, 'I don't want to say anything about sitting in the chair. The thrill of actually sitting in this chair, of being the new president, still doesn't quite work in my head. Whether it is still a dream or a reality, I still don't know. So I will tell you this realization later. Everyone dreams. However, I have not seen a specific date when I will become the president. It was a dream. When I was first elected as Vice President in 2012, my dream was to become President one day. Maybe I didn't think it would be so soon. But I am certainly proud of what has happened.'
The new president wants to work as a team, 'We want to advance football for the next four years without depending on anyone. Some may be sick, some may be on a trip. Someone else will act as his substitute, take the work forward. It is the same with the staff, as it is with our executive committee. In the absence of the President, the Senior Vice-President will be present. If there is no senior vice-president, there are vice-presidents. Besides, the executive members also have to take responsibility at some point. This is how we will run the committee as a team. There will be no hindrance in decision-making or work.'
Tabith said about Bafuf's debt, 'And we are not feeling any pressure. It is a continuation. The current committee took over from the previous committee through an election. It was done through a fair and beautiful election. We have to move things forward now. Besides, we have to look into some things, what is the truth of some things, how much financial things are there or not. They are not discussed in the AGM. We don't want to jump into any judgment yet. When we can discuss the real issues in the executive committee meeting, you will know the real reactions and decisions.'
Bonus will be announced for the women's team. Tabith said that it will be clear on November 9, 'I want to make it clear that an announcement will come on the 9th from Bafuf. Besides, we have come to know that many individuals and organizations want to give reception and gifts to the women's team. An announcement will be made by the Bafuf and an arrangement will be made, subject to the approval of the executive committee, to ensure financial transparency.'
Tabith's clear words about the meeting with the staff, 'Basically we said nothing inside so that nothing gets out. I can't share the inside story and I won't do it in the future, FIFA and AFC's ethical standards, values, moral standards and where the league may be breached, we will have a commitment that we will not fall below the standard or fall into any legal breach. I don't want to single out one or two issues. I don't want to allow any violation of the rules as a whole.'
What Tabith said about reforms in Bafufe, 'We are all 20 people who are looking forward. Not looking back at all. I didn't take it as a question, I took it as a suggestion. We have a lot of work to do in the days ahead. There are a lot of internal repairs involved. There are also repair issues outside. As we have to do physical reforms, we also have to do internal reforms. We will hold the first executive meeting on the 9th with all these goals in mind. I am going to make a formal decision that day.'
Tabith wants to focus on working instead of talking, 'I'm sure many things will come up in the coming days. In many respects we will have room to improve, work where we can improve. Our duty now is not to speak. To work out, to solve. Everyone is satisfied with the solution. And we will not delay any work. We will make the necessary repairs as soon as possible. We live with many cultures. Each committee will have a different culture. In the coming days you will also see in which culture we want to move forward. I don't want to go into any judgmental analysis on the first day. Culture changes over time. Everything is normal to change. We will also try to change ourselves.'
The president urged them to give their best, “I am not qualified to comment on my fellow travelers who have been elected by the delegates yet.” Rather, they should question whether they are satisfied with me, whether I am fit for leadership. There are many distinguished people here, there are many more famous players than me outside the federation, there are many more qualified organizers than me. There are bigger businessmen than me and bigger corporate representatives than me. I feel grateful to them, because they agreed to give us the place of leadership. Comment or decide about me. They were elected by their delegates. Now for the rest of the days, we all have to represent Bangladesh to the best of our ability.
