BFF Signs First-Ever Official Football Partnership with Molten

In a historic move, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has signed its first official football partnership, aiming to reduce annual costs associated with purchasing footballs. The federation has entered into a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Japanese sports equipment manufacturer Molten Corporation.

The signing ceremony took place on Monday (May 19) at the BFF House in Dhaka, where the agreement was formalized in the federation's third-floor conference room. As per the agreement, BFF will receive footballs from Molten both free of charge and at discounted rates for the next three years.

“Molten will provide 2,000 footballs free of cost each year, and an additional 2,000 balls at a subsidized rate,” said BFF Vice President and Marketing Committee Chairman Fahad Karim. “This will help the federation save an estimated Tk 5 million annually, over Tk 15 million over the course of the agreement.”

Previously, BFF used funds from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to procure footballs. The partnership with Molten will now allow the AFC's financial assistance to be redirected towards other sporting equipment, Fahad added.

Since taking charge, BFF President Tabith Awal has reviewed fund utilization procedures under FIFA and AFC frameworks to ensure more efficient spending, Karim noted.

In 2024 alone, BFF purchased over 3,000 Molten footballs. According to the federation’s technical department, the annual requirement is approximately 4,000 balls. The agreement also allows BFF to purchase from other companies if necessary, with no exclusivity restrictions from Molten.

This partnership comes at a significant moment for Bangladesh football, with Premier League player Hamza Choudhury set to debut for the national team on home soil on June 10. Italy-based Fahmidul Islam and Canada-based Samit Som are also expected to make their national team debuts in the same match.

BFF plans to integrate Molten into various boards and activities, similar to other federation sponsors. The agreement also includes plans to distribute footballs at the club and district levels to ensure adequate supply throughout the year, rather than only during competitive seasons.

Explaining why Molten was chosen over other bidders, Fahad Karim said, “We received offers from 4–5 companies, with some offering 500–1,000 balls for free. Molten initially offered 1,500, later increasing it to 2,000. It's a trusted brand already used in many competitions in Bangladesh.”

Takashi Ozaki, Asian Group Leader at Molten Corporation, signed the agreement on behalf of the company. “Football is a passion. Through Molten, we want to make sure everyone can be a part of that passion,” he said.

BFF’s Fahad Karim signed on behalf of the federation, with Vice Presidents Naser Shahriar Zahedi and Wahid Uddin Chowdhury Happy also present at the ceremony.