Pioneer Football League (Bangladesh)

Football league

Pioneer Football League

Founded| 1981; 44 years ago (1981)
Country| Bangladesh
Confederation| AFC
Number of clubs| 46
Level on pyramid| 4 (1981–1992)
5 (1993–2011)
6 (2012–present)
Promotion to| Dhaka Third Division League
Current champions| Barishal Academy
(2021–22)
Website| www.bff.com.bd

Pioneer Football League (Bengali: 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

[edit]

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

[edit]

As of 2021–2022[1]

* A total of 46 teams were split into five zones - Central, East, West, North and South.
* The matches will be held at the five different venues- Paltan Outer Stadium, Gopibagh Brother Union ground, Mirpur Golartek ground, Uttara Sector 14 ground and Fatullah Aliganj ground. Each venue will host 2 groups.
* A total of 20 teams will play in the Super League, two from each zone. In the Super League, 20 teams will play in four groups.
* The four group champions will play the semi-finals. These four semi-finalists will advance to the Dhaka Third Division Football League.

## Structure

[edit]

Further information: Bangladeshi football league system

Level

League / Division

|

Bangladesh Premier League
11 clubs - 2 relegation

Bangladesh Championship League
11 clubs - 2 promotion, 2 relegation

Dhaka Senior Division Football League
14 clubs – 2 promotion, 3 relegation

Dhaka Second Division Football League
18 clubs, split into 2 groups – 3 promotion, 2 relegation

Dhaka Third Division Football League
18 clubs, split into 2 groups – 5 promotion, 2 relegation

Bangladesh Pioneer Football League
unlimited number of clubs - 4 promotion

## Champions

[edit]

Season  | Champion  | Runner Up  | Third Place  | Fourth Place  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

2012 | Khilgaon Football Academy | Matuail Udayan Sangsad | Nasrin Football Academy | None  | [6]
2013–2014 | Narinda Junior Lions Club | Araf Sporting Club | Kollol Sangaa | None  | [7]
2014–15 | Bangladesh Ansar | Tangail FA | Fakirerpool Shurjo Torun Sangha | None  | [8]
2016 | Arambagh FA | Gazipur City FA | Bashundhara Kings | None  | [9]
2017 | Kingstar Sporting Club | MSPCC City Club | Asaduzzaman FA | Wajed Miya KC | [10]
2019–20 | Elias Ahemd Chowdhury SS | FC Uttar Bongo | FC Brahmanbaria | Green Welfare Center Munshigonj | [11]
2021–22 | Barishal Academy[12] | Green Voice Kishor Bangla Club | Prantik Junior | Feni Sports Academy | [13]

## Individual awards

[edit]

### Top-scorer

[edit]

Season  | Player  | Club  | Goals  | Ref.

|
|
|
|

2014–15 | Mohammad Jewel | Bangladesh Ansar | 22  | [8]
2019–20 | Mahfuz Ahmed  | Eskaton Sabuj Sangha Club | 20  | [11]
2021–22 | Mehdi Hasan Minar  | Skylark Football Club | 15  | [14]

### Player of the tournament

[edit]

Season  | Player  | Club  | Ref.

|
|
|

2021–22 | Raihan Mia  | Barishal Academy | [12]

### Player of the final

[edit]

Season  | Player  | Club  | Ref.

|
|
|

2021–22 | Akash Islam  | Barishal Academy | [12]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "মনসুর স্পোর্টিংকে নিয়েই মাঠে গড়াচ্ছে 'নতুন' পাইওনিয়ার". dhakapost.com.
2. ^ "Bashundhara Kings, from Pioneer League to BCL champion". Dhaka Tribune. November 4, 2017.
3. ^ "Pioneer League from today". The Daily Star. April 25, 2008.
4. ^ "Club registration for Pioneer Football League begins". BFF.
5. ^ a b Alam, Masud. "আরও মনোযোগ দরকার, আরও যত্ন". Prothomalo.
6. ^ "Pioneer teams awarded at last". Dhaka Tribune. May 30, 2013. Archived from the original on July 16, 2023.
7. ^ "Narinda Junior Lions Club become champions". The New Nation. Archived from the original on July 27, 2023. Alt URL
8. ^ a b "পাইওনিয়ার ফুটবলে চ্যাম্পিয়ন আনসার". Prothomalo. April 27, 2015. Archived from the original on July 16, 2023.
9. ^ "Arambagh FA clinch title". The Daily Star. April 9, 2016.
10. ^ "পাইওনিয়ার লিগে কিং স্টার চ্যাম্পিয়ন". Bangla Tribune.
11. ^ a b "Award blunder exposes negligence". www.newagebd.net.
12. ^ a b c "Barishal Academy win Pioneer League title". The Daily Star. July 8, 2022.
13. ^ "Pioneer U-15 Football League final Friday". unb.com.bd.
14. ^ "পাইওনিয়ার লিগের চ্যাম্পিয়ন বরিশাল ফুটবল একাডেমি". Kalerkantho. July 8, 2022.