Mohammedan Sporting Club goalkeeper Mamun Khan proved his worth by saving a spot-kick of Feni Soccer’s Gambian marksman Kabba Jobe, helping his side lift the Independence Cup title on Saturday. Mamun presented Mohammedan the title of Super Cup last year by blocking two shots in tie breaker. The efforts pleased Mamun as his stunning save gave the Mohammedan fans a rare occasion to celebrate a title.
‘I was confident of winning the match in the stipulated time but due to some mistakes by out strikers the match went into penalty shootout,’ Mamun said after the match.
‘But I was prepared for it. I practised penalty shootout in the last few days and finally I did my job properly,’ said the proud goalkeeper.
Jose Rui Capella Batista, the Portuguese coach of Mohammedan, who tasted the first success after taking the charge, was happy to see his players getting some result for their hard work in training sessions.
‘I prepared my team for the penalty shootout for the last five day. I knew in a match like this it can always happen,’ said Batista.
‘But to be honest, I expected my team to win the match before the penalty shootout. But some silly mistakes put the fate of the match in the tie breaker,’ he added.
Though his side failed to create the history, Omar K Sisse, the Gambian coach of Soccer Club, also was satisfied with the result.
‘Actually we played the match as underdogs and our target was to win the match in the stipulated time but our strikers failed to utilise the chances,’ said the Gambian coach.
‘With the performance in this tournament we gave a signal that we are not minnows and we will try to continue our performance in the upcoming second phase of Bangladesh Premier League.’
Mohammedan skipper Zahid Hasan Ameli, who received the highest-scorer award jointly with Haitian Sony Norde and Nigerian Sunday Chizoba, with each scoring four goals, was elated like his all other team-mates.
`After stepping in the professional arena I won many trophies in my career but this trophy is a special one for me because I clinched it as team captain,’ said Ameli.
-With New Age input
