Newcomers Beanizabar Sporting Club yesterday signed up some proven campaigners from Mohammedan SC, Brothers Union and Muktijoddha Sangsad in a hope of giving some nervous times to the title contenders in the upcoming football season.
The upazila, which is the home of many expatriates, side from Sylhet district got the nod from the country's football's governing body to participate in the top-ranked meet, the Professional Football League, with the assurance of forming a strong team. Although they could not fully keep their promise, Beanizabar formed a more-than-mediocre side that could be a cause for concern for the giants in the tournaments or leagues.
Jasimuddin Ahmed Joshi was named as the coach of the side and the organisers declared that they would fill up the void by the foreign recruits after consulting with the coach.
Beanizabar roped in 15 players namely: Dhaka Mohammedan midfielders Faisal Mahmud and Rashed Ahmed Pappu, Brothers Union's striker Ashraful Kader Manju, playmaker Hasan Imam Rikto, defender Ashraful Karim, Rahmatganj goalkeeper Mohammad Ali, Muktijoddha Sangsad's defenders Shahnur Rahman Ronny and Rezaul Karim Biplob were remarkable among the singed up players.
"Unfortunately the club has selected the players before appointing me and I am not aware of those players' physical and mental conditions. So at the moment I can't make any promise to you, but one thing I can say that a few players are known to me and it would be an advantage for me to coach them," said Joshi, whose contract was confirmed yesterday after giving him verbal assurance three days back.
Joshi, the former speedy winger of the national team, coached Mohammedan in 2005 to help the popular Black and Whites finish second beyond champions Brothers Union in the Premier Division League. He was also Mohammedan's assistant coach for two years during 1997-98.
The club's president, AKH Khasru, said that they were targeting to finish among top eights to qualify for the Super Cup.
"We first targeted to rope in a few national players, but later dropped it because we are not going for the title, rather we want to survive in the league and finish among the top eight teams out of thirteen participating sides," informed Khasru adding that they would try to add expatriate Bengali footballers to their squad.
But, the president believes that the sports-loving people of Beanizabar and the facilities they have will inspire them to play good football.
Feni Soccer Club, another newcomers, added seven more players to their previous 13 to give a final shape of their squad.
The newly signed players are Arambagh KS's SM Imrul Hasan and Imdadul Haq and (new registration) Monayem Khan Raju, Pintu Kumar Das, Mintu Sheikh, Sujan Kanti Bhoumik and Iqbal Hossain Bhuiyan.