Star-studded MSC

STAR CAST ON A RIDE: Mohammedan Sporting Club's star signings midfielder Mamunul Islam (R), striker Zahid Hossain Emily (C) and best player of last season Wali Faisal (Standing L) are on a horse carriage at Motijheel yesterday after confirming that they would don the Black and White shirt when the 3rd B. League commences in October.Photo: STAR

Mohammedan Sporting Club made a bold statement on Saturday that they would splash any amount of money to win the B. League by signing the two most exciting exponents of last season -- star striker Zahid Hasan Emily and best defender Wali Faisal.
Emily and Faisal were the two key players of Mohammedans' rival Abahani's title triumphs in the first two B Leagues.
Mohammedans, who have reportedly paid Emily a whooping cash of Taka 18,00,000 also roped in five players from different clubs and retained the services of country's number one goalkeeper Aminul along with midfielder Arman Aziz and defenders Mofazzal Hossain Saikat, Nasiruddin and striker Abdul Baten Kamol.
It will be a different battle for three former Abahani campaigners Emily, Wali and Mamunul, who will be wearing the Black and White jersey for the first time. But they vowed that they have one thing in common -- to win a hattrick of titles.
"To play for Mohammedan will be a new experience for me. It might be a different battle but for me the target remains the same. I want to touch the B. League trophy for a third time, " said Wali after putting pen to papers.
For Emily it was a dream come true.
"As a professional player, we all look for better offers and I accepted Mohammedan's proposal. But if you consider me as a fan then it's a dream true for me because it was my childhood dream of playing for my favourite club," said Emily, the highest paid player of Mohammedan.
"I will be loving to put up better performance of what I showed for Abahani last season and looking forward to strike 25 goals in the B. League," said the young striker, who struck 13 league goals on way to Abahani's second consecutive B. league title triumph.
The Motijheel-based club with a rich shelf of trophies however had to be content as bridesmaid of their bitter rivals Abahani ever since the prestigious B. League was launched in 2007.
Mohammedan invasion in the transfer this time was so intense that it gave them a clear edge, at least on paper, over holders Abahani, who all but completed their transfer formalities two days ago.
Mohammedans show off with the players accompanied by a large number of supporters at the Bangladesh Football Federation headquarters was spectacular to say the least.
They have made sure plenty of festivities by bringing in an elephant that led the Mohammedan rally.
In a bid to form a formidable side, they have also drafted in Brothers Union's speedy winger Zahid Hossain, defender Ariful Islam, Farashganj's shaven-headed defender Mamun Mia and Badda's talented medio Alamgir Kabir Rana, a member of the Bangladesh's AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers squad.
Mohammedan, however, could not stop losing defender Rajani Kanta Barman and striker Hedayetul Islam Robin, both joined Abahani this year.
"After being failed to take the league title twice in a row, we targeted a few key players from Abahani and Brothers and we communicated with those players soon after the completion of Super Cup and we have finally signed them today," said a happy Mustaqur Rahman, a member of Mohammedan ad-hoc committee.
Rahman also said that they were on the verge of signing Brothers' goalkeeper MN Shakil, defender Shakil and former army striker Nasir.
Last year's Federation Cup and Super Cup champions Mohammedan apparently did not show interest in veteran defenders Hasan Al Mamun, Ripon Khan, Kamal, midfielders Maruf, Faisal Mahmud and goalkeeper Himel.
Interestingly, Mohammedan settled their squad without confirming the coach and Mustaqur said that a football committee comprising former Mohammedan players as well as expert would soon select the coach on arrival of conveyor Mossadek Ali Falu, who is scheduled to return home on Monday.
The signed up players are: Aminul Haq, Arman Aziz, Wali Faisal, Mamun Mia, Ariful Islam, Mamunul Islam, Moffazal Hossain Saikat, Nasiruddin, Zahid Hasan Emily, Abdul Baten Komol, Zahid Hossain and Alamgir Kabir Rana.