# Pioneer Football League (Bangladesh)

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. 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.

## History

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.
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.

## Format

    As of 2021–2022
* 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

| Level | League / Division |
| 1 | Bangladesh Premier League 11 clubs - 2 relegation |
| 2 | Bangladesh Championship League 11 clubs - 2 promotion, 2 relegation |
| 3 | Dhaka Senior Division Football League 14 clubs – 2 promotion, 3 relegation |
| 4 | Dhaka Second Division Football League 18 clubs, split into 2 groups – 3 promotion, 2 relegation |
| 5 | Dhaka Third Division Football League 18 clubs, split into 2 groups – 5 promotion, 2 relegation |
| 6 | Bangladesh Pioneer Football League unlimited number of clubs - 4 promotion |

## Champions

| Season | Champion | Runner Up | Third Place | Fourth Place |
| 2012 | Khilgaon Football Academy | Matuail Udayan Sangsad | Nasrin Football Academy | None |
| 2013–2014 | Narinda Junior Lions Club | Araf Sporting Club | Kollol Sangaa | None |
| 2014–15 | Bangladesh Ansar | Tangail FA | Fakirerpool Shurjo Torun Sangha | None |
| 2016 | Arambagh FA | Gazipur City FA | Bashundhara Kings | None |
| 2017 | Kingstar Sporting Club | MSPCC City Club | Asaduzzaman FA | Wajed Miya KC |
| 2019–20 | Elias Ahemd Chowdhury SS | FC Uttar Bongo | FC Brahmanbaria | Green Welfare Center Munshigonj |
| 2021–22 | Barishal Academy | Green Voice Kishor Bangla Club | Prantik Junior | Feni Sports Academy |

## Individual awards
### Top-scorer

| Season | Player | Club | Goals |
| 2014–15 | Mohammad Jewel | Bangladesh Ansar | 22 |
| 2019–20 | Mahfuz Ahmed | Eskaton Sabuj Sangha Club | 20 |
| 2021–22 | Mehdi Hasan Minar | Skylark Football Club | 15 |

### Player of the tournament

| Season | Player | Club | Ref. |
| 2021–22 | Raihan Mia | Barishal Academy | |

### Player of the final

| Season | Player | Club | Ref. |
| 2021–22 | Akash Islam | Barishal Academy | |