The government has finally responded to Bangladesh Football Federation's (BFF) appeal to allocate the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan of Sylhet for football, but wished to lease only a part of the sports institution.

The governing body of local football had earlier wanted the Sylhet BKSP exclusively to run a 100-player football academy headed by a technical director after a local reputed company showed their interest in spending at least 24 crore taka for football over a period of eight years.

Explaining the reason behind not to lease the full institute, the youth and sports ministry stated that the BKSP was an autonomous organisation whose goals were to develop local athletes in the Sylhet region. And its goals would be hindered if it was leased completely. But considering the popularity of football in the country, a part of the institute will be leased to the BFF, subject to the approval of the board of directors of the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan.

The letter, which was received by the BFF on Monday, also said that the terms and condi-

tions of the lease would be descried in details in the Memorandum of Understanding between the BFF and the BSKP

The ministry offered to allot only 18 three-seated rooms for footballers, two rooms for coaches and a floor that includes class, office and conference rooms.

The federation wanted at least 100 seats for the players and an additional 30 to 35 seats for its staff so that they could run the academy without facing any problem.

"We will have to think over it again as the government's offer met just half of our demands, but there is a scope of negotiation and I think it is still possible to increase some facilities through discussion," said BFF general secretary Al Musabbir Sadi.

However, Sadi said that they would soon hold talks with the authorities concerned to know their decisions.

On August 11. the BFF put forward an outline of the proposed academy after Sports Minister Ahad Ali Sarker asked them to place the detail plan.

According to the plan the football academy, headed by a technical director, will be run with one hundred 10-year-old players in four separate groups for an eight-year cycle and the contract will be renewed after every 10 years.