Reigning Bangladesh Premier League champions Sheikh Russell KC thumped Ugyen Academy of Bhutan 4-0 in their last group match in Colombo on Sunday to become the first Bangladeshi club to qualify for the AFC President’s Cup final round. Mithun Chowdhury scored a brace to take his tournament tally to four goals while Haitian Pascal Millien and Shakil Ahmed also found the back of net as Russell emerged as group champions ahead of Pakistan’s KRL, who lost to Sri Lanka Air Force by 0-3 in the other match of the day.
Before Russell, Abahani Limited played five times in the third-tier Asian club competition but failed to cross the hurdle of first round on all occasions. Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club skipped the tournament in 2012 because of security reason.
Before the introduction of AFC President’s Cup, Bangladesh’s giants Mohammedan SC, Muktijoddha Sangsad KC and Brothers Union played AFC Cup competitions.
Mohammedan qualified for the second round of the AFC Cup Winners Cup in 1996.
The six-team final round of the AFC President’s Cup will be held from September 22 to 28 in a yet to be decided venue.
The qualification to the final round somewhat rescued the season of Russell, who failed to repeat their last year’s treble winning performance in domestic competitions. Already dethroned in Federation Cup and Independence Cup, they are languishing in sixth place in the Bangladesh Premier League table having earned just 16 points from 12 matches.
Russell, however, showed their true colour at the international tournament hitting nine goals in the last two matches after a goalless draw against KRL in the opening match.
Newly-appointed coach Dragan Djukanovic brought one change to the line-up that crushed local favourites Sri Lanka Air Force 5-0, bringing in Sabuj Biswas in place of Mohammad Robin. Though a draw was only needed, Russell played an attacking brand of football to go 3-0 up in the first half.
Two scoring chances were wasted in the first ten minutes before Pascal put the team ahead in the 14th minute from a through pass by Mithun, who doubled the margin seven minutes later after being set up by the Haitian.
Shakil struck in the 28th minute to take the game away from Ugyen. Goalkeeper Biplob Bhattacharjee was forced to make three saves in the second half before Mithun completed the rout four minutes from the time.
‘It is much pleasure for us that we could keep the love and expectation of 160 million people,’ captain Biplob was quoted as saying by a Bangladesh Football Federation media release.
Coach Dragan wished his charges to keep up the momentum in the Bangladesh Premier League.
‘I want the boys to keep up their performance when we resume the Bangladesh Premier League and doing better in the professional football league depends on how the boys perform,’ he said.
Bangladesh Football Federation congratulated Russell for their success.
In a message, BFF president Kazi Salahuddin hoped that Russell will continue their impressive performance in the final round as well.
-With New Age input
