Fallen giants look to rise

Newly appointed Muktijoddha Sangsad coach Maruful Haque briefs his charges in his first practice session with the club at the Army Stadium in Banani yesterday.Photo: STAR

They have emerged champions twice in the now defunct Premier Division football league but have little to show for in their first three season's in the professional league. This season however, this traditional giant of the game are gearing up for a shot at the Bangladesh League title well before the start of the fourth edition of league and even before the start of the players transfer.
Muktijoddha Sangsad, might be veritable giants in the football scene but they started practice yesterday at the Army Stadium in Banani aiming for a maiden Bangladesh League triumph.
And under the supervision of successful coach Maruful Haque who joined the freedom fighters' side this season from popular Mohammedan SC, they cannot be discounted.
Muktijoddha's record in the professional league makes for unhappy reading. The freedom fighters got off to a fine start in the inaugural edition finishing third. But things have all been downhill from then on.
Escaping relegation somehow salvaged a miserable second season and although their fortunes have improved slightly since then, the one-time giants managed only a mid-table finish in the third edition of the Bangladesh League.
However, there is renewed hope of a title push this season as Muktijoddha have pushed for a revamp of the entire playing squad, roping in some 19 players, many of them top stars from giants Abahani and Mohammedan.
The transfer window will not open until September 1 but Muktijoddha have all but confirmed their team for this season after signing goalkeeper Biplob, defenders Firoz Mahmud Titu, Obaidur Rahman, Yeamin Munna midfielders Motiur Munna, Enamul Haq Sharif, Arman Aziz, Azmal Hossain Biddut, Alamgir Kabir Rana, strikers Rokonuzzaman Kanchan and Mithun Chowdhury.
All of them took part in the first day of training yesterday.
The players will be training for three weeks before the Eid vacation and play two practice matches, one against BKSP (August 19) and other against Navy, informed coach Maruful after the training session.
"The management of Muktijoddha has set their sights on the league title and rationally we have started the training early to achieve our target," said Maruful, who guided Mohammedan to win the Federation Cup twice and Super Cup once.
Muktijoddha have confirmed the maximum ten players from Mohammedan this season and Maruful believes it will make his job easy as these players are already used to his training methods.
The AFC A-license coach said he would basically work to develop the players' skill, fitness, formation, individual and group attacking as well as defending during the three-week camp.
Maruful has also plans to run another three-week conditioning camp outside the capital if the Bangladesh Football Federation can follow its schedules properly.
Some eight foreign players from Brazil, Rwanda, Senegal and Nigeria have also sent their CVs along with video footage to be considered for the All Red outfit, informed Maruful.
As far as his competitors are concerned, newcomers Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club have confirmed the most number of players from the national fold.
Three-time Bangladesh League champions Abahani have also regrouped to build a good side but are not as strong as last season.
Considering the playing staff of the other teams, Maruful was confident that his charges would be better than the others in terms of effectively transferring his philosophy on the pitch.