Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, the new entrants in the Bangladesh League, the country’s only professional football league, have set a target of being the new dominant force in the country’s sports arena.
At a press conference held at the Gulshan Club on Thursday Sheikh Jamal officials vowed to ensure a true sporting atmosphere within the club with an eye on developing sports of the country.
In a bid to reach the summit the club has confirmed the services of as many as 24 top-ranked footballers, two-thirds of whom are members of the current national side, and formed a strong first division cricket team that they said are capable of advancing to the premier division league.
The club was renamed Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club on April 28, 2009 and was turned into a limited company four months later on August 20. Sponsors rushed in and the club’s coffers inflated rapidly that allowed them to win the heart of Bangladesh Football Federation and build a strong side for the Bangladesh League.
UCBL, Partex and Rupayan Group are among their top sponsors, said the club officials, who were confident of creating a buzz in their first season in the Bangladesh League.
Zoran Karlevic and Davor Berber, who were assistants to former Serbian coach of the national team Zoran Djordevic, have joined the club to fulfil their vision.
They claimed to have prised 10 footballers from the Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting Club – goalkeepers Aminul and Shakil, defenders Wali Faisal, Arif and Nasir, midfielders Mamunul, Jahid and Shakil Khan and strikers Emily and Kamol.
Three-time champions Abahani lost out Sujon and Mishu, midfielders Shahed and Enamul to the club while defender Rezaul and Sabuj joined from Farashganj. Mintu Sheikh, a defender of Feni Soccer Club, also signed for the club.
‘Obviously, we are looking for the Bangladesh League title and hopefully we’ll be able to show high quality football to our sports lovers in the upcoming season,’ club president Manzur Kader said.
‘We have recruited the Serbian coaches to ensure the standard,’ said Kader adding that they will fight against the fixed matches.
Asked about the recruitment of foreign footballers, Kader said they are yet to finalise. ‘We’ll follow the instructions of the head coach in recruiting foreign the players…the coach will decide what will be needed for the team,’ said Kader.
All the players of the football team and the Serbian coaches, Zoran Karlevic and Davor Berber, wore a club logo on their yellow polo shirts and green trousers and Nike sneakers. The United Commercial Bank Limited will be sponsoring the football team.
The club officials said they are determined to be a sporting club and there is no room for any politicisation. ‘We have tagged the name of Sheikh Jamal as we believe he would have served the country as a talented person, we want to ensure a true sporting atmosphere in the Dhanmondi Club ground and we have already taken steps to upgrade the field, it will be open for all the children of Dhanmondi and the surrounding areas,’ added Kader.
The players of the cricket team are Ujjal, Apurba, Shakil, Maruf, Majid, Nahid, Imran, Rumi, Ripon, Nasir, Faisal, Taizul, Rony, Rubaiyat, Subrata, Babel, Sabuj and Moshtaque. Former national cricketer Anwar Hossain Monir will be the coach.
Shawkat Aziz Russell, chairman of the club’s governing body, and executive committee members Major General (retd) Zia Ahmed, chairman of BTRC, Brig Gen (retd) Kazi Mahmudul Hasan, Tanvir Mazhar Tanna, Real Admiral (retd) Mustafizur Rahman, Shawkat Ali Bhuiyan and Elias Rahman Babul were also present at the press conference.
