Rain may spoil again
(L) Influenza-hit Wali Faisal cuts a forlorn figure as Mohammedan's assistant coach Jewel Rana (R) gets ready for a practice session at the BUET ground while (R) Abahani players take a jog round their club ground on Sunday. The Federation Cup resumes today after Eid and Puja vacations.Photo: AFP
After a two-week break following the inclement weather as well as the vacation of Eid-ul-Fitr and Puja, the season's curtain-raising tournament, Citycell Federation Cup, resumes today with two matches set to be held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
The Bangladesh Football Federation was forced to postpone the meet three days before the scheduled Eid and Puja vacation following steady rain that made the ground unplayable.
The football's governing body, however, made the venue ready this time after filling the earth as well as rolling it and paving a way out for the rainwater. The task was supposed to be carried out by the National Sports Council, but the owners of the stadium remained silent on BFF's demands for a level playing field.
But amid the current forecast of continuing, the tournament may face yet another setback as the BNS will now have to bear the stress of hosting two matches every day after the Army Stadium was scrapped from the venue list.
Chittagong Mohammedan SC and Rahmatganj MFS, having won their respective first matches, will be looking for a quarterfinal berth with a win as they square off in the day's second match after Arambagh KS and Shukhtara Jubo Sangsad of Narayanganj play the first match at 3:00pm.
The last year's giant killers, Rahmatganj, are considered the favourites, especially after the way they played against Arambagh KS that gave them an emphatic 3-1 win over their rivals. Besides, their foreign striking duo Raphael Sango and Idris Kasirye are also in scoring form.
On the other hand, Chittagong Mohammedan's 2-0 win against newcomers Shukhtara Jubo Sangsad was not so impressive, but their striking duo Akbar Hossain Ridon and Ariful Kabir Farhad may cause problems for any side.
Nevertheless, Shukhtar Jubo Sangsad, the champions of the Club Cup Championship, are desperate to stay in the race by defeating Arambagh, whose coach Wazed Gazi also rates the Narayanganj outfit as being ahead of his charges.
Meanwhile, a number of foreign recruits will be seen in the second round matches as struggling Brothers, who were humiliated 7-1 by Dhaka Mohammedan, brought two Ghanaian players -- Enock Bentil and Steven Kwest Yebah to strengthen their line-up. Ghanaians Sheriff Deen Mohammed and Mohammed Awal, who arrived here yesterday, are likely to be seen in Abahani's second match against their Chittagong namesakes on Saturday, following the Dhanmondi-based outfit's unimpressive start.
Holders Mohammedan SC are the only side who have confirmed their quarterfinal berths after two straight victories.
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