AFC Uttara
Azampur Football Club Uttara (Bengali: আজমপুর ফুটবল ক্লাব উত্তরা), commonly known as AFC Uttara, is an association football club based in Azampur, Uttara, a suburb of Dhaka, Bangladesh. The club plays in the Bangladesh Championship League, the second level of Bangladeshi football league system.[1][2]
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| Full name | Azampur Football Club Uttara |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | AFCU |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Ground | Rafiq Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium |
| Capacity | 25,000 |
| President | Saidur Rahman Manik |
| Head Coach | Ali Asgar Nasir |
| League | Bangladesh Championship League |
| 2022–23 | Premier League, 11th of 11 (Relegated) |
| Website | Club website |
History
Formation and early years
In 2009, Azampur Club was built next to the Azampur railway line by renting the land owned by Bangladesh Railway. The club is located at the end of Road No. 19, Sector 4, Uttara. Local businessmen Shahidur Rahman Manik and Md Shahadat Hossain were respectively named the club's president and secretary. The club remained relatively inactive in the domestic football scene during the first decade since inception and first took part in the Pioneer Football League in 2013, without finding much success.[3]
Azampur later participated in the 2018–19 Dhaka Second Division League, which is the fourth tier of Bangladeshi football. Although they failed to finish within the top three spots required for promotion to the Dhaka Senior Division League, the club were given a direct entry to the Bangladesh Championship League, the country's second tier.
Match-fixing allegations and promotion
In preparation for the 2021–22 Bangladesh Championship League, the club appointed former Bangladesh national team forward Saifur Rahman Moni, as the head coach. Although the club were given direct entry to the second-tier due to their facilities, it was later reported that the club house had inhumane living standards, with 15 and 14 beds in two rooms, used to accommodate 25 players. Azampur's inaugural match in the BCL, ended with a 3–0 victory over Kawran Bazar PS.[3]
On 27 March 2022, Saifur Rahman Moni resigned from head coach duty, and imposed match-fixing allegations against the club. Moni stated that his last two games with the club, against Uttara FC (1–2) and Farashganj SC (3–1) were predetermined. After the allegations were made public, a player anonymously interviewed by Prothom Alo, admitted to the game being fixed, while Muktijoddha SKC midfielder Salahuddin Rubel, was also rumored to be involved. The club's players also accused Salahuddin Rubel of entering the clubhouse without permission.[4]
Amdist the allegations Monowar Hossain Moyna, who was appointed from matchday nine of the league season, guided the club to promotion to the Bangladesh Premier League.[5] After almost 5 months of investigating, the Bangladesh Football Federation concluded that the club had not taken part in any fixed matches, thus allowing them entry into the 2022–23 Bangladesh Premier League.[6]
Current squad
- As of 27 March 2023
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Current technical staff
As of 7 November 2022
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head coach |  Ali Asgar Nasir |
| Assistant coach | Monowar Hossain Moyna |
Club officials
As of January 2022
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| President | Saidur Rahman Manik |
| Vice president | D.M. Shamim |
Head coaches' record
- As of 21 July 2023
| Head Coach | From | To | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | %W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saifur Rahman Moni |
February 2022 | 27 March 2022 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 37.50 |
| Monowar Hossain Moyna |
28 March 2022 | 20 June 2022 | 14 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 24 | 10 | 57.14 |
| Ali Asgar Nasir |
November 2022 | Present | 26 | 0 | 5 | 21 | 13 | 76 | 0.00 |
References
- "Azampur win in Div II Football". The Financial Express. 8 May 2019. Archived from the original on 18 March 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- আজমপুরে কোচ মিলন মোল্লা. Daily Naya Diganta (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
- Islam, Rashedul. কেউ রেল লাইনের ধারে, কেউ অন্যের ঘরে. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 31 December 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
- ঢাকার ফুটবলে ম্যাচ পাতানোর বিস্ফোরক অভিযোগ তুলে কোচের পদত্যাগ. Prothom Alo (in Bengali).
- "ফিক্সিং অভিযোগে ষড়যন্ত্র দেখছে আজমপুর ফুটবল ক্লাব". crimepatrolbd.com - জানতে ও জানাতে চাই. 15 June 2022. Archived from the original on 31 December 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
- Desk, Offside (9 September 2022). "সন্দেহ তালিকার শীর্ষে থাকা আজমপুর পুরোপুরি নির্দোষ!". Archived from the original on 31 December 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.