Abahani Limited, the most successful club in the professional league history of Bangladesh, is determined to win the forthcoming Bangladesh Premier League, scheduled to start on July 24 in Chittagong.
Abahani, the Federation Cup champions, claimed that they have the ability to win the prestigious title after a three-year gap and win their fifth title in the championship history.George Kottan, the veteran coach of Abahani, believed his charges will award him the maiden league title after the Austrian coach failed to win it in the last edition.
‘Last year we knew that we wouldn’t be champions but this time we will try to get the championship title,’ Kottan told the pre-league press conference on Sunday.
‘My team is now better than before. I will try, my boys will also try to win the league title and I believe they are able to make it.’
The 70-year-old coach hailed the Bangladesh Football Federation for their decision of increasing more venues outside the capital.
‘The new format will help Bangladesh football. I told it 16 years ago. Spreading the league across the country is a good idea. We know they would have to face many obstacles but you should begin,’ he said.
Sheikh Russell, the 2012 treble winners, also expressed their aspiration to win the title and shrug off their failure of the last two seasons.
Russell coach Maruful Haque took the league as the last chance for a side which formed a team with the hope of winning all titles of the season.
‘When we formed the squad our target was to win every tournament including the league but we failed to perform up to the mark in the last two tournaments,’ said the former national coach.
‘Now we are taking preparation for the league, the players are working hard to achieve at least a title.’
Maruf said due to some lacking they failed to perform well in the Independence Cup and Federation Cup as they were eliminated from the semi-final stage from both the tournaments.
‘We have a huge lack in the central midfield position which left us sufferer a lot,’ he said.
‘The foreign players also failed to adapt to condition in the last two tournaments but I’m happy to see my whole team is all but ready to give their best in the league.
‘There still have some injury problems in the team as Ameli [Zahid Hasan] is not fully fit but I hope we will get a fit Rony [Shakhwat Hossain] from the beginning the league. Fikru [Tereffa, Ethiopian forward] has also recovered from his injury.’
Russell Captain Atiqur Rahman Meshu believed the new format of the league will be a great opportunity for the footballers to show their calibre in front of hundreds of spectators.
‘We are really excited to play the league outside the capital because it will provide us a golden opportunity to help us get recognised and become a real star,’ he said.
Rahmatganj MFC coach Kamal Babu said his side has the ability to offer great challenge for the other clubs.
‘Our preparation has been good. Currently the Premier League sides have very little difference in their strength, so it is difficult to pick a faourite.
Uttar Baridhara, the promoted side from the Bangladesh Championship League, said they will target to finish the league at six or seventh position.
-With New Age input
