Argentine Ambassador Marcelo Carlos Cesa and Brazilian Ambassador Paulo Fernando Dias Feres on Friday praised football as a powerful force for fostering friendship across borders and inspiring young players, while expressing hope that initiatives like the ATJFB Airlines Football Championship would contribute to the development of the sport in Bangladesh.
They made the remarks at the inauguration of the inaugural ATJFB Airlines Football Championship (AFC) 2026 at the Gulshan Youth Club Artificial Turf, where State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque officially opened the country's first international airlines futsal tournament.
Organised by the Aviation and Tourism Journalists' Forum of Bangladesh (ATJFB), the two-day tournament has brought together 16 domestic and international airlines under the theme, "One Sky, One Field, One Champion."
Addressing the opening ceremony, Brazilian Ambassador Paulo Fernando Dias Feres said that while winning is important, "enjoying the game is even more important," urging supporters to maintain peaceful rivalry both on and off the pitch.
Argentine Ambassador Marcelo Carlos Cesa echoed the sentiment, saying the tournament could help advance football in Bangladesh and inspire young players to fulfil their dreams.
Speaking at the event, State Minister Md Aminul Haque said Bangladeshis have a special affection for football giants Brazil and Argentina. He expressed hope that such initiatives would help nurture local talent and that the Bangladesh national team would one day inspire the same level of passion among supporters.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines Managing Director Kaizer Sohel Ahmed, ATJFB President Tanzim Anwar and Tournament Director Md Adnan Rahman also addressed the gathering, highlighting the importance of unity and networking within the aviation community.
The tournament features teams from Biman Bangladesh Airlines, US-Bangla Airlines, Novoair, Air Astra, Emirates, Qatar Airways and several other domestic and international carriers. Round-of-16 and quarter-final matches were held on Friday, while the final is scheduled for Saturday.
