The Bangladesh Premier League clubs are making a desperate attempt to overcome the shortcomings and come back stronger in the second phase as the mid-season transfer window closes on January 23.
The final round of the first leg begins today with relegation-threatened Arambagh KC facing Team BJMC in the first match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
Arambagh with just three points to their name from seven matches have added Cameroonian striker Alamu Gerhard to
their line-up during the January player tranfers while they have also applied for visa for two others – Amadi Moses and Okemery Godwin.
‘Our main problem is the forward line because we are creating a lot of chances but could not convert any of these. So we are recruiting some more overseas strikers,’ said Kazi Jolly, manager of Arambagh team.
Their opponents BJMC are in a safe position with eight points from seven matches but they are also not satisfied with the progress they made as it was nowhere near to their ambition.
‘We have registered Nigerian defender Kazim for the second leg while three more Russian players are on their way to Dhaka for a trial with us,’ said BJMC coach Zakaria Babu.
‘Hope Kazim will help us overcome the defensive shortcomings. Our midfield and forward line are slowly getting into form,’ he added.
Meanwhile, league leaders Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, who will take on basement side Brothers Union in another match of the final round at the same venue on Saturday, have decided to register three new foreigners despite having an impressive first leg results.
‘We will bring back our Federation Cup players Osegie Monday and Ikechucku Okemiri and will bring another midfielder from Morocco,’ Anwarul Karim Helal, the manager of Jamal, said.
‘We have to plug the gap created after the injury of Enamul Haque Sharif and Monaem Khan Raju. We will also release another midfielder Shahedul Alam Shahed to play for Feni Socer Club,’ he added.
Brothers kept their three Nigerian players on trial and are trying to bring back their old Brazilian midfielder Danilo Santos as their coach Ladi Babalola believes he lacks at least one skilled midfielder.
‘I do not have a good defensive midfielder and played defender Illiasu Samson at that position temporarily. I need to solve this problem immediately,’ said Ladi Babalola.
Since all the local players have had a season-long contract with their respective clubs and no club are releasing their domestic collection, only foreigners are getting mid-season contracts.
Star-studded Sheikh Russell Krira Chakra are no exception, although they got nine national team players in their line-up.
When Russell will take on seventh-placed Feni Soccer Club at the Feni stadium on Friday, they will have their old gun
Nigerian Alamu Bukola Olalekan back in the side for season.
‘We are a well balanced team and do not need a lot of changes. I just want Bukola for the right wing in case we miss Zahid (Hossain), who is more injury-prone,’ said Russell coach Maruful Haque.
Traditional giants Mohammedan will also bring at least three changes to their side although their city arch-rivals Abahani have no such plans.
-With New Age input
