Pioneer Football League (Bangladesh) Explained

Pioneer Football League
Pixels:250px
Country:Bangladesh
Confed:AFC
Teams:46
Promotion:Dhaka Third Division League
Levels:4 (1981–1992)
5 (1993–2011)
6 (2012–present)
Champions:Barishal Academy
Season:2021–22

Pioneer Football League (bn|পাইওনিয়ার ফুটবল লীগ ), also known as the Bangladesh Pioneer Football League, is an age-level league and also the sixth-tier of Bangladeshi football organised by Bangladesh Football Federation. The semi-finalists of the competition are promoted to the Dhaka Third Division Football League.[1] [2] [3] As the tournament is considered to be the lowest level of Bangladeshi football, so the number of participants is unlimited as well as any club is able to send an application to participate in the tournament.[4]

History

The league unofficially started on 29 April 1980. A total of 160 teams participated in the qualifiers, from which 80 teams got a chance in the final stage. But the tournament was not registered as the Bangladesh Football Federation did not determine a champion and runner-up team. The Pioneer League officially started in 1981. In its first edition the league was inaugurated by the Speaker of the National Assembly (MNA), Shamsul Huda Chaudhury.[5]

A year later, on September 24, 1983, the then FIFA President João Havelange inaugurated the league at the Dhaka Stadium. The next few editions saw the league being inaugurated by Prime Minister's Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina.[5]

Format

[1]

Structure

LevelLeague / Division
1Bangladesh Premier League
11 clubs - 2 relegation
2Bangladesh Championship League
11 clubs - 2 promotion, 2 relegation
3Dhaka Senior Division Football League
14 clubs – 2 promotion, 3 relegation
4Dhaka Second Division Football League
18 clubs, split into 2 groups – 3 promotion, 2 relegation
5Dhaka Third Division Football League
18 clubs, split into 2 groups – 5 promotion, 2 relegation
6Bangladesh Pioneer Football League
unlimited number of clubs - 4 promotion

Champions

SeasonChampionRunner UpThird PlaceFourth PlaceRef.
2012Khilgaon Football AcademyMatuail Udayan SangsadNasrin Football AcademyNone[6]
2013–2014Narinda Junior Lions ClubAraf Sporting ClubKollol SangaaNone[7]
2014–15Bangladesh AnsarTangail FAFakirerpool Shurjo Torun SanghaNone[8]
2016Arambagh FAGazipur City FABashundhara KingsNone[9]
2017Kingstar Sporting ClubMSPCC City ClubAsaduzzaman FAWajed Miya KC[10]
2019–20Elias Ahemd Chowdhury SSFC Uttar BongoFC BrahmanbariaGreen Welfare Center Munshigonj[11]
2021–22Barishal Academy[12] Green Voice Kishor Bangla ClubFeni Sports Academy[13]

Individual awards

Top-scorer

SeasonPlayerClubGoalsRef.
2014–15Mohammad JewelBangladesh Ansar22
2019–20Mahfuz AhmedEskaton Sabuj Sangha Club20
2021–22Mehdi Hasan MinarSkylark Football Club15[14]

Player of the final

Notes and References

  1. Web site: মনসুর স্পোর্টিংকে নিয়েই মাঠে গড়াচ্ছে ‘নতুন’ পাইওনিয়ার. dhakapost.com.
  2. Web site: Bashundhara Kings, from Pioneer League to BCL champion. November 4, 2017. Dhaka Tribune.
  3. Web site: Pioneer League from today. April 25, 2008. The Daily Star.
  4. Web site: Club registration for Pioneer Football League begins. BFF.
  5. Web site: আরও মনোযোগ দরকার, আরও যত্ন. Masud. Alam. Prothomalo.
  6. Web site: Pioneer teams awarded at last. May 30, 2013. Dhaka Tribune. July 16, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230716173044/https://www.prothomalo.com/sports/football/%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%93%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AB%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%9A%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%BF%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0. live.
  7. Web site: Narinda Junior Lions Club become champions. The New Nation. July 27, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230727000000/http://thedailynewnation.com/news/14019/Narinda-Junior-Lions-Club-become-champions. live. Alt URL
  8. Web site: পাইওনিয়ার ফুটবলে চ্যাম্পিয়ন আনসার. April 27, 2015. Prothomalo. July 16, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230716173044/https://www.prothomalo.com/sports/football/%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%93%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AB%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%9A%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%BF%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0. live.
  9. Web site: Arambagh FA clinch title. April 9, 2016. The Daily Star.
  10. Web site: পাইওনিয়ার লিগে কিং স্টার চ্যাম্পিয়ন. Bangla Tribune.
  11. Web site: Award blunder exposes negligence. www.newagebd.net.
  12. Web site: Barishal Academy win Pioneer League title. July 8, 2022. The Daily Star.
  13. Web site: Pioneer U-15 Football League final Friday. unb.com.bd.
  14. Web site: পাইওনিয়ার লিগের চ্যাম্পিয়ন বরিশাল ফুটবল একাডেমি. July 8, 2022. Kalerkantho.

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