Sheikh Russell Krira Chakra will be hoping to make a winning start in the AFC President’s Cup when they will face seven-time Mongolian champions Erchim FC in their first Group B match of the final round at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo today.
The match will start at 1:30pm Bangladesh Standard Time.Earlier, Russell became the first club from Bangladesh to qualify for the final round of the Cup after finishing as Group A champions in the first round held in May in Colombo.
The 2013 Bangladesh Premier League champions play North Korean side Rimyongshu Club on September 24 in their second and final Group B match.
And a back-to-back win will take the Bangladeshi side into the final of the last-edition of the AFC President’s Cup on September 26.
Sheikh Russell left the country for Sri Lanka on Wednesday and had an hour of training session on Friday in a very hot and humid condition where the early start in scorching heat has become a concern for the Bangladesh players.
Zahid Hasan Ameli, Sheikh Russell’s striker loaned from Mohammedan Sporting Club for the tournament, admitted that they were feeling enervated in the hot and humid weather after arriving in Colombo.
‘This is very hot here and we feel enervated in the severe heat and humidity. So, we are struggling to adjust to the condition,’ said the national team forward, who is likely to play in the starting eleven as one of two forwards with Nigerian marksman Nkwhocha Kingsley.
‘Our main target will be to beat the Mongolian opponents. They are a very strong side as they won their local league title seven times in a row. They have two Serbian players in their team, so it will not be an easy task for us to beat them,’ Ameli told New Age via Facebook.
‘But we are ready to face them and if we will play as a unit, I’m hopeful that we will take full three points,’ said a confident Ameli.
Meanwhile, Russell coach Zakaria Babu is planning to start the game with a 4-2-3-1 formation, which gives an indication of being more defensive.
On the other hand, Mithun Chowdhury, who will be leading Russell for the first time, thinks that a win was a must against Erchim today, since North Korean side Rimyongshu will be a much difficult opposition to beat.
‘As Rimyongshu Club are far batter than us, we are taking the field against Erchim to collect full three points,’ said Mithun.
Probable XI: Mamun Khan (GK), Rajaul Karim, Bojan Petric (Serbia), Wali Faisal, Sohel Rana, Shahedul Alam, Shakil Ahmed, Mithun Chowdhury, Rabbi Hasan, Zahid Hasan Ameli, Nkwocha Knigsley.
-With New Age input
