Sk Jamal seek league hattrick
With the JB Bangladesh Premier League knocking on the door, the 12 participating teams are gearing up for a new journey in their season after completing the first two campaigns in the KFC Independence Cup and Walton Federation Cup. Yesterday the Bangladesh Football Federation introduced the officials, coaches and captains of four teams before the media and they outlined their goals for the prestigious professional football league, which will begin from July 24.
SHEIKH JAMAL DC
Despite being a depleted side following the mass exodus of local players and uncertainty hanging over the fate of their foreign players, Sheikh Jamal will be fighting for a hattrick of titles.
The departure of the country's top players this season has had an evident impact on Sheikh Jamal, who could not make it to the final of either the Independence Cup or Federation Cup. They were knocked out in the semifinals of the former, while succumbing in the quarters of the latter. The deadly foreign trio of Wedson Anselme, Emeka Darlington and Landing Darboe were behind Sheikh Jamal's run to the knockout stages of both tournaments and they will be vital yet again. However, with Wedson's availability in doubt, the road ahead will be even trickier.
“We could not produce the desired results in the last two tournaments but we believe the failure in both tournaments will inspire the players to do something better,” said coach Shafiqul Islam Manik. “However, this time the teams will have to travel to different venues and alter their diets, so the team which will come out successful will be the team who can adapt the best.
MUKTIJODDHA SANGSAD KS
The All Reds are always dark horses, posing a hurdle to any title-contenders. That much was evident when they sent big-spenders Chittagong Abahani -- champions of the Independence Cup – packing in the group stages of the Federation Cup before reaching the quarterfinals. Though the freedom fighters' side don't set very lofty targets, they will want to garner as high a finish as possible in the 12-team table.
“We are satisfied with how we have performed in the past two tournaments and want to transfer those performances to the league. On paper, we are slated for fifth or sixth position, but we want to improve our position in the league,” said coach Abdul Kayum Sentu.
BROTHERS UNION
The falling giants have never come close to winning the professional football league since its introduction in 2007, but this time the ambitious side are aiming to capture the coveted title, although the team management is a bit worried about the new format which forces teams to travel from venue to venue.
“I am happy with the performances of the players in Federation Cup. Nothing is impossible and I will try my best to achieve the target though it will be tough for the players and coaches to maintain the standard due the burden of travelling,” said Nepalese coach Balgopal Maharjan.
ARAMBAGH KS
The season's surprise package so far have been Arambagh, who have outshined big names like Sheikh Jamal and Muktijoddha Sangsad to reach the Federation Cup final before losing to Abahani and the youthful Arambagh have earned a lot of respect from other title contenders.
“Our target is to put up consistent performances like the ones we showed in the Independence Cup and Federation Cup and thus produce good results in the league,” said assistant coach Jahidur Rahman Milon.
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