Hasanuzzaman Khan Bablu (Bengali: হাসানুজ্জামান খান বাবলু; born 5 May 1955) is a retired Bangladeshifootball player and coach. At the club level, Bablu is most well known for representing Gopibagh-based Brothers Union. In Dhaka football, he has scored 75 goals including a hattrick. Bablu also represented the Bangladesh national team in the 1980 AFC Asian Cup and played for his country between 1975 and 1982. After retiring, he managed the national team as an interim in 2000, 2003 and 2006.
Early life
Born in Rajshahi, Bangladesh, Bablu started his football career while studying in Sirajganj, where he won the best player award in an interschool football tournament. Bablu's father, A Z Khan, was a police superintendent while his mother, Nurjahan Begum, was a housewife. He grew up with five brothers and two sisters. His brother-in-law, Abul Kashem, was the director of WAPDA SC and provided financial support to Bablu during the early stages of his career.[1]
Club career
Early career
In 1972, when Brothers Union coach Abdul Gafur Baloch started gathering players for the club's youth team, alongside Mohammed Mohsin, Bablu became one of the first products of the youth team to make his way into the main squad. The following year he played for the club in the Dhaka Third Division League, which was the first time Brothers Union entered professional football after the 1971 Liberation War. Over the next two years, Bablu became one of the highest goalscorers in both of Dhaka's Third Division and Second Division, as Brothers achieved consecutive promotions to enter the Dhaka League in 1975. His combination with Mohsin was an integral part to the club's success, with Mohsin becoming the top-scorer during both of their lower division title triumphs.[2]
Prime at Brothers Union
Bablu quickly made a name for himself when the newly promoted Brothers made their top-flight debut in 1975, claiming a 1–0 victory over defending champions Abahani Krira Chakra.[3] In 1976, during a league game against East End Club, Bablu who had scored two goals already, dribbled past the entire East End defence only bring the ball back to his own half and sit on top of it. Bablu claimed to have challenged the opponent players to take the ball off of him, however following his antics the referee booked Bablu, who was then immediately substituted.
"You idiot, you insulted eleven East End players. If I had not taken you off, they would have beaten you together."
— Brothers Union coach Abdul Gafur Baloch's reaction to Bablu's stunt against East End Club[1]
Bablu attracted the interest of Sheikh Kamal, who invited him to join Abahani, and though the deal was agreed by both clubs it later collapsed after the 15 August 1975 coup d'état. Although during his time with the Oranges he failed to win the league title, Bablu was part of the Brothers team that were joint champions of the first edition of the Federation Cup in 1980, during which he was the club captain. Bablu was also part of the team that became the first Bangladeshi side to win the Aga Khan Gold Cup, although both titles were shared with Mohammedan SC and Bangkok Bank,
respectively. During their Aga Khan Gold Cup triumph, Bablu scored in the semi-final against Oman XI in a 3–1 victory.[1]
Last years
In 1983, Bablu left Brothers Union after Mohammed Mohsin's injury lead to a slump in the club's form. Bablu joined Mohammedan SC, where he won the 1983 Federation Cup, however, Bablu could not replicate the performances he had with Brothers. The following year Bablu changed clubs again, joining Abahani Krira Chakra where he regained his form. With Abahani, Bablu won his first Dhaka League title during his lone year at the club, before moving to Dhaka Wanderers in 1985. Bablu returned to Brothers Union in 1986, and retired the same year.[1][4]
International career
In 1975, the same year when Brothers Union made their top-tier debut, Bablu got a national team call-up from Abdur Rahim who was the Bangladesh's coach at the time. Bablu travelled with the team to Malaysia where they took part in the Merdeka Cup. Bablu then played for the Bangladesh U19 team at the 1978 AFC Youth Championship in Dhaka. He also captained the U19 team during the qualifiers for the 1980 AFC Youth Championship under his club coach, Gafur Baloch. Bablu guided the youth national team to qualification as they finished group runners-up behind Qatar U19.