Football, Bangladesh - Current Affairs Questions and Answers

ANSWER: Praful Patel

Explanation:
All India Football Federation won the AFC Developing Member Association of the Year Award at the Asian Football Confederation Annual FC Awards 2016 at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi.

AFC Vice President Ali Kafashian gave the award to AIFF President Praful Patel.

This award is given to the member association for the identification of its professional leadership and governance.

It also assesses Member Association’s exceptional contribution to the evolution and promotion of the game at all levels within the specific country.

FIFA is the international governing body of football which oversees these awards

Fédération Internationale de Football Association is the international governing body of association football, futsal and beach soccer.

It is responsible for the organisation of the major tournaments of football, namely the World Cup in 1930 and Women’s World Cup commenced in 1991.

FIFA

• Founded: 1904
• Headquarters: Zurich
• Membership: 211 national associations
• Member countries are one of 6 regional confederations into which the world is divided namely Africa, Asia, EU, North and Central America and Caribbean, Oceania and South America.

ANSWER: Kolkata-Khulna Bandhan

Explanation:
Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, the Bangladesh Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh & the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, in an historical event on Nov 9, 2017 flagged off Cross Border Train between India & Bangladesh, the Kolkata-Khulna Bandhan Express through video conference from Kolkata station.

The leaders unveiled jointly an e-plaque to inaugurate the following:

(i) Second Bharirab & Titas Railway Bridges in Bangladesh,

(ii) International Rail Passenger Terminus with End-to-End Immigration and Customs Clearance Facilities (for the passengers of Maitree Express and Bandhan Express) at Kolkata station.

The close connection and understanding between two countries requires connectivity between the people across the border and Maitree Express and Bandhan Express trains will further add to connectivity between India and Bangladesh and strengthen and strengthen bonding.

The Bandhan Express train is the second train to be flagged off after the introduction of Maitree Express' between Kolkata and Dhaka Cantonment stations in April, 2008.

It covers the distance between Kolkata and Khulna through Petrapole & Benapole route to cater to the demands of the people from both the countries to enhance the connectivity.

The Bandhan Express will be a weekly service on every Thursday.

In order to reduce the en-route journey time of the passengers of the existing Kolkata - Dhaka Cantt. Maitree Express and newly introduced Kolkata - Khulna Bandhan Express, Ministry of Railways, with the coordination of Department of Immigration & Customs has opened an International Rail Passenger Terminus at Kolkata station with proper infrastructure and facilities of end-to-end immigration.

With this new facility at Kolkata Terminal, the passengers of Maitree Express and Bandhan Express will be immensely benefitted.

The second Bhairab Bridge and Titas Bridge in Bangladesh built under the assistance of Government of India are two of the most important projects in Bangladesh for infrastructure and rolling stock development.

The one kilometer long second Bhairab Railway Bridge was built over the mighty Meghna river at a cost of around USD 75 millions by Indian contractors and consultants.

Similarly, the Titas bridge over river Titas in Eastern Bangladesh was built with a cost of around USD 25 million. Both these bridges are on the main Chittagong to Dhaka Trunk Rail Line which will help in faster movement of both passenger and freight trains of Bangladesh.

ANSWER: Both of the above

Explanation:
Indian football team goalkeeper Subrata Paul has been honoured with the Arjuna award.

• Paul has been nicknamed Spiderman for his acrobatic saves during the 2011 AFC ASIAN Cup.
• He has represented India for over a decade.
• Paul has also captained the team in several matches.
• Award will motivate him to do better, according to him; this is one of the highest awards for sportspersons in the country.
• Over the years Paul has won the AFC challenge Cup
• He also led the team in three editions of the Nehru Cup and the 2016 SAFF Suzuki Cup.
• He is the 24th footballer to have won the award.
• The previous footballer to win the Arjuna award was Sunil Chettri in 2011.

ANSWER: Amal Datta

Explanation:
Veteran football coach of India, Amal Datta has passed away at the age of 87

• He was the first professional football coach of India.
• Datta retired voluntarily from Indian Railways to become a full time professional coach.

ANSWER: None of the above

Explanation:
The world’s oldest professional footballer, Japan strike Kazuyoshi Miura has beaten his record as the oldest goalscorer in J-League history

• The 49-year-old footballer is in his 31st season as a professional
• He scored 22nd minute into he game and Yokohama FC lost to FC Gifu on 2-1 in the latest record he broke.
• The 49-year-old, who is in his 31st season as a professional, netted a header as his side Yokohama FC succumbed to a 2-1 defeat at home to FC Gifu in the Japanese second division.
• Miura, who goes into record as being the oldest footballer and oldest goal scorer in Japan’s professional league, is arguably Japan’s first superstar in football.

ANSWER: Florence Hardouin

Explanation:
European football governing body UEFA has elected Frenchwoman Florence Hardouin as the first female executive member in a landmark vote at the Budapest congress. The 49 year old Hardouin, FFF DG won by 33 votes against rival candidate Karen Esplenud who won 21 votes.

• Both candidates were of the opinion that UEFA’s 54 member associations at the annual decision making event would be an important step in changing the powerful regional confederation.
• She has not aimed for the FIFA post though

ANSWER: Supreme Court

Explanation:
Supreme Court of Bangladesh on 28th March 2016 upheld the status of Islam as a state religion

Ruling was given out of High Court division of the court while dismissing the petition filed by S.N. Goswami.

The legality of the constitutional provision of Islam as state religion despite secularism as a fundamental state policy under a 2011 amendment to the Constitution was challenged by Goswami.

• Bangladesh was formed in 1971. As per 2011 census, 87% of the population here is Muslim
• In 2010, the Supreme Court restored secularism as one of the basic tenets of the constitution and declared the 5th amendment as illegal. However, the provision relating to Islam as the State religion remains untouched.

ANSWER: Anatoly Ilyin

Explanation:
Soviet football star Anatoly Ilyin died at the age of 84. He was capped 31 times by USSR in the 1950s and scored as many as 16 goals. He also played for the Spartak Moscow club for most of his professional career. Ilyin scored the winning goal for Russia in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and also participated in the World Cup in 1958. He won the Soviet Top League a total of 5 times.

ANSWER: India

Explanation:
India beat defending champions Afghanistan 2-1 in the summit clash of the South Asian Football Federation Cup to life the trophy for the 7th time. India lost to Afghanistan in the 2013 edition in Kathmandu earlier. Victory for the 166th ranked India over the 150th Afghanistan saw India lifting the cup for a record seventh time. With this win, they are likely to make a jump in FIFA rankings.

ANSWER: Facebook

Explanation:
Bangladesh has lifted the ban on FB 3 weeks after the popular social networking service was blocked after the SC upheld death penalty of 2 opposition leaders convicted for war crimes in independence war against Pakistan in the year 1971. The bans on WhatsApp and VIber will continue for security reasons, the authorities said.