Former champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club played an insipid goalless draw against new leviathans Sheikh Russel at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday, to take solo lead in the Grameenphone Bangladesh Premier League.
The much-hyped tussle between the two powerhouses failed to live up to the billing and failed to produce any goals both teams took a cautious approach, but it did them no harm as Sheikh Jamal went top with 17 points from seven matches while Sheikh Russel stayed on their heels with 16 points, tied with defending champions Abahani.
Sheikh Jamal, the lone unbeaten side in the league, preferred the aerial route — fielding Sunday Chizoba and Mike Otojareri — the two tall Nigerians upfront. However, their attacks were successfully thwarted by Sheikh Russel’s backline, which was marshalled by two tall defenders Bojan Petric and Abass Inusah alongside stocky Mamun Mia and Nahidul Islam.
At the other end, Sheikh Russel’s dangerous striker Sony Norde was kept under heavy marking by Sheikh Jamal’s Guinean defender Mohammad Conte and the striker hardly got space to work throughout the match.
Sheikh Jamal made some impression in the first half and Sunday had a difficult chance to covert when he was fed by a Shakil Ahmed free-kick in the sixth minute. The Nigerian turned briskly before driving a low shot at goal, which missed the target by a whisker. Two minutes later, Shakil then took a dipping volley from outside the box which floated over the cross bar.
Sheikh Russel started to take control of the match and the best attempt they mustered came in the 24th minute when Sony Norde drove powerfully from 25 yards out. The ball beat the Sheikh Jamal goalkeeper Maksudur Rahman Mustaq, but could not beat the upright.
Sheikh Russel enjoyed superior ball possession at the other side of the break too and came close twice but Mithun Chowdhury and substitute Rajon Mia failed to capitalise on the chances. Mithun was fed with a header by strike partner Emily in an
Unmarked position in the 63rd minute, but the diminutive striker’s volley went wide off the target. Minutes later, Bojan’s miscued header fell to unmarked Rajon Mia, whose shot was blocked by Mustaq.
Sheikh Russel coach Maruful Haque was however more keen on pointing to some refereeing decisions as the reason for not being successful in the match.
“Sheikh Jamal’s Conte was supposed to get four red cards as he tackled Sony 10 to 12 times from behind but the referee (Tayeb Hasan) ignored those incidents in fear of being suspended,” complained Maruf adding it was impossible to play good football in such circumstances.
“This (refereeing) is not my business as Bangladesh Football Federation and the Referees’ Committee will look after the matter,” said a diplomatic Sheikh Jamal coach Joseph Afusi.
-With The Daily Star input
