Perennial arch-rivals Abahani Limited and Mohammedan Sporting Club were pitted together in the same group in the draw ceremony of the 26th Federation Cup at the Bangladesh Football Federation House on Sunday. Eight-time champions Abahani and ten-time winners Mohammedan will face off in Group D, which is completed by Rahamatganj, in the season’s curtain-raiser scheduled to begin on November 21.
2011 champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club were drawn together with Feni Soccer Club and second-tier side Uttar Baridhara in Group A.
Defending champions Sheikh Russell Krira Chakra, three-time winners Muktijoddha Sangsad and Chittagong Abahani make up Group B while Group C comprises of Team BJMC, three-time champions Brothers Union and either BKSP or Bangladesh Police.
The top two teams from each group will progress to the quarter-finals with the final slated for December 6. All the matches will be held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
12 teams divided into four groups containing three teams each will battle it out to win the season’s first silverware. Among the 12 teams, 10 top-flight clubs have been drawn from the domestic football league while Uttar Baridhara will represent the Bangladesh Championship League.
Either BKSP or Bangladesh Police will get the ticket to the final round of the Federation Cup after encountering each other in a play-off today.
The opening day of the tournament will see two matches take place. Sheikh Jamal will clash with Uttar Baridhara while Abahani will lock horns with Rahamatganj.
BFF vice-president Abdus Salam Murshedi said in the draw ceremony that they were relieved after finalising the fixtures of the Federation Cup.
‘We were in doubt whether we could start the football season but it proved to be possible after we received assistance from all concerned parties,’ said Murshedi.
‘We had to complete our fixtures of the Federation Cup in order to start the professional football league soon.
The domestic football league is supposed to get underway from the middle of December.
National team coaches Lodewijk de Kruif and Rene Koster and Walton brand ambassador Zobera Rahman Linu were present among others in the draw ceremony.
-With New Age input
