Bangladesh League, the lone professional football league in the country, kicks off today with defending champions Dhaka Abahani facing newcomers Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club at the Kamalapur stadium.
Abahani met Sheikh Jamal only once in the Federation Cup final in October this year which the three-time Bangladesh League champions won by 5-3 goals after extra time.
Sheikh Jamal, who have 16 national players in their fold, are determined to start their campaign with a success at their home venue. Jamal’s Serbian coach Zoran Crajlevich is taking the match as an opportunity to exact a revenge on their victors in the Federation Cup.
‘If you ask about the aim, then each and every coach of the 12 participating teams will answer they want to be the champions and I am not an exception. I know a win in today’s match will not bring our desired result but this match has a special appeal to me as it is an opportunity to avenge our Federation Cup loss,’ said the coach.
‘Winning a professional league title is not that easy. Just skilful players are not enough for that but it also needs enough experience. This is the first time Sheikh Jamal are participating in the Bangladesh League, so a tough job is waiting for us ahead,’ he added.
Abahani are eying the title for the fourth time in a row. The reigning champions have already underlined their title their credentials by winning the Bordoloi Cup trophy in India in September and the Federation Cup, the curtain raiser tournament to local football season.
Abahani have just returned from their Thailand tour where they played two practice matches with the local clubs. They drew one and lost the other game. Abahani manager Satyajit Das Rupu is optimistic about their upcoming Bangladesh League mission. ‘We are the champions of all three previous editions and this time we want to repeat the feat again. Our players are in good condition and we are looking for a good start,’ Rupu said.
The other teams of the Bangladesh League are Dhaka Mohammedan SC, Sheikh Russell KC, Feni Soccer Club, Arambagh KS, Muktijoddha Sangsad KC, Brothers Union, Rahmatganj MFS, Ctg Mohammedan SC, Farashganj SC and Ctg Abahani, as per last season’s standings. The league will be played over two legs on home and away basis as usual and nine Dhaka-based teams will use the Kamalapur stadium as their home venue in the first leg while Bangabandhu National Stadium will be their home venue for the second leg games. Ctg Abahani and Feni Soccer Club will use the Cox’s Bazar stadium and the Feni stadium for their home matches. Ctg Mohammedan have proposed the Bandarban stadium as their home ground but the BFF has yet to approve their proposal.
