Brothers rope in unknowns

Chittagong Abahani's Nigerian recruit Yakubu Audu Suleiman signs for the club as the others stand behind during the last day of the players' registration at the BFF House yesterday. Photo: STAR

Coach Wasim Iqbal confessed he was in the dark as a depleted Brothers Union signed up 24 players for the upcoming season on the last day of the month-long booters' transfer at the BFF House yesterday.
The Gopibagh-based outfit, Brothers, one of the established forces in country's football, were initially forced to let most of last season's recognised players go following the financial crisis. And even when they came into the scene of the bourse, they hardly got any familiar players to add to defenders Masud Rana and Liton Khan, the only duo who did not leave the 'All Oranges'.
Big names like wingers Zahid Hossain, Abdullah Parvez, left-back Mishu, goalkeeper MN Shakil, defenders Ariful Islam, Amit Khan Shuvro, midfielders Arup Kumar Baidya, Shakil Ahmed, Rezaul Karim Liton and Hasan Imam Rikto, striking duo Mehdi Hasan Tapu and Ashraful Kader Manju all left to join the club likes Mohammedan SC, Abahani, Muktijoddha Sangsad and newcomers Beanibazar.
It was not all doom for Brothers, however as they roped in a few proven campaigners like Sheikh Russel's winger Tanvir, striker Bulbul, medio Yousuf, Muktijoddha Sangsad's striker Milon, Dhaka Abahani's substitute striker Toru and Dhaka Mohammedan's defender Ripon Khan.
"Except Masud and Liton, I have no concept of other players and honestly I can only tell you something about the squad seven days later. I am supposed to see them playing in the whole field today (Monday)," said Wasim, who last time coached Brothers Union to finish fourth in the 11-team point table.
Brothers Union on Sunday arranged a trial at its Gopibagh ground and picked the players from 43 booters.
"It will be a tough challenge for me to give the squad a shape ahead of the Federation Cup and I am looking forward to the B. League instead of the Federation Cup," said Wasim.
The former national footballer said that he would find out the weakness of the current squad and then ask the authority to fill up those positions with quality foreign players.
Manager Amer Khan admitting to have financial problems said that they had lacked organisational activities this time, but the players particularly Mamun, Nayan, Nahid, Tanvir and Bulbul had potential.
"After raising the fund, we saw that there was no quality players as most of the team decked up their squad," opined Khan.
On the other hand, Muktijoddha Sangsad, Chittagong Abahani Limited and Chittagong Mohammedan SC turned up on the last day to complete their players' registration formalities.
Muktijoddha signed up 12 players, Chittagong Abahani and Chittagong Mohammedan 19 players each.
Brothers Union Squad: Ragu, Jahangir, Iran, Apu, Nahid, Liton Pal, Adil, Ripon Khan, Masud Rana, Yousuf, Liton Khan, Naeem, Mamun, Faisal Ahmed Emeka, Nayan, Saddam, Faysal, Biplob, Tanvir, Sabuj, Bulbul, Dedar, Toru and Milon.
Muktijoddha Squad: Shahaj Uddin Tipu, Rokonuzzaman Kanchan, Amit Khan Shuvro, Wali Khan, Tajul Islam, Mahmudul Hasan, Ajmol Hossain Biddyut, Ashraf Hossain, Manwar Hossain, Nizam Majumdar, Saifur Rahman Moni, Prodeep Kumar Poddar, Jalal Uddin Jalal, Khairul Islam Titu, Ronny Islam, Atiqul Islam Tareq, Arup Kumar Baidya, Rasel Ansari, Firoz Mahmud Titu, Amin Rana and Ghanaian Camara Saifoulaye.
Chittagong Abahani squad: SM Hadiuzzaman, Masud Alam, Mohammad Tareq, Talukdar Shafiqur Rahman, Fariduddin, Mozammel Haq, Shamal Ahmed, Abdullah Al Mamun, N Ahmed Shafi, Abul Hasnat Azad, Suman Barua, Jahangir Alam, Khaled Mohammad Azam, Saidul Haq Sayeed, Shahidur Rahman, Shakawat Hossain Ronny, Mithun Chowdhury and Nigerian Yakubu Audu Suleiman.
Chittagong Mohammedan squad: Sirajul Islam, Sanwar Hossain, Shimul Kanti Barman, Shafiqul Islam Bipul, Shariful Islam, Mazharul Islam Emon, Kamrul Islam Pavel, Anwar Hossain, Nadiruzzaman, Akbar Hossain Ridon, Abu Morshed, Shawkat Khan, Uttam Barua, Ariful Kabir Farhad, Towhidul Islam Siddique, Nazir Ahmed, M Linkon and Azizul Haq Apu.