Wedson's near miss

Sheikh Jamal's Haitian striker Wedson Anselme (L), who scored twice to take his tally to 26 goals, tries to outwit Sheikh Russel defender Rezaul Karim in their Bangladesh Premier League match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. PHOTO: STAR

Abdus Salam Murshedy's record of 27 league goals in a season is safe for now. The Mohammedan Sporting club striker's 32-year enviable record however came under real threat this season with Haitian forward Wedson Anseleme pushing for a belated charger to touch the milestone.

Wedson struck twice for champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club's 2-0 win against Sheikh Russel KC in their last Bangladesh Premier League match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. But it still landed Wedson one short of Salam's benchmark feat achieved at the same venue in 1982.

“I have only come to know about Bangladesh's all-time highest goals in one season two matches before when we confirmed our title against Abahani. I think I could have broken the record if I would have known it before,” said a dejected Wedson, who played all the 27 league matches.

“Still I am happy with the performance I have put up in my debut season in Bangladesh,” said Wedson, who has scored a total of 30 goals for Sheikh Jamal this season. The Haitian hitman said that he might try to break the record provided that he gets better financial package next season, adding that he has already got lucrative offers from Indian clubs Mohun Bagan and East Bengal.

While it was a near miss for Wedson, Sheikh Jamal, who confirmed their second professional league title with two matches in hand, set a new record in terms of point difference with the second placed side. They finished the league 12 points clear of runners-up Abahani, who along with last year's champions Shiekh Russel enjoyed the previous record of a 7-point difference. 

Sheikh Jamal, who broke the bank this season to form the strongest possible side, played excellent football throughout the season and deservedly won the coveted title with their foreign trio -- Haitian duo of Wedson (26), Sony Norde (13) and Nigerian Emeka Darlington (21) -- sharing 60 goals out of 78 Sheikh Jamal struck in 27 league matches.

Sheikh Russel, who won the treble last season, finished sixth this year. 

In the day's first match, Mohammedan also completed their campaign with an emphatic 3-0 win over lowly Feni Soccer Club to finish fourth in the league with Wehed Ahmed, Arup Kumar Baddya and Yusuf Sifat scoring one goal apiece.

But despite the victory, it was yet another forgettable season for Mohammedan, who have won everything in the domestic football apart from the coveted Bangladesh Premier League, introduced in 2007.