Transfers open today

The players' transfer for the 2010-11 football season begins today with very little expectations of the usual last-minute drama, with most of the excitement centered around the emergence of a new force and the reinvention of a former champion.
Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club and Muktijoddha Sangsad have challenged the power of Abahani and Mohammedan Sporting Club by signing most of their big name players, a long time before the official players transfer.
Despite that, the headquarters of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) will become slightly busier on the opening day of the transfers that will last a week for the local footballers and 15 days for the foreign brigade. The transfers will officially kick off at 3pm but only a few smaller clubs will probably show up to confirm their players on the first day.
Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, a new brand name for club that has been in existence since 1962, has taken all the headlines since July. They have roped in as many as sixteen national team players.
In a ceremony earlier this month, the new faces of the club paraded its acquisitions that include Aminul Haque, Zahid Hasan Emily, Enamul Haq, Wali Faisal, Mohammad Sujan, Mamunul Islam, Atiqur Rahman Mishu, Zahid Hossain, Nasiruddin, Komol and Shahed, all poached from the two Dhaka giants.
In the same vein, Muktijoddha have renewed hope of a title push this season as they have revamped their entire squad. They have roped in some 19 players, many of them top stars from giants Abahani and Mohammedan.
Muktijoddha have confirmed the services of 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.
To counter the exodus, the league authorities have confirmed yesterday that five foreign players (with the fifth being the goalkeeper) can be part of the starting eleven of all the teams.
But that factor won't confirm success and Abahani have confirmed the services of Mehdi Hasan Ujjal, Nazrul Islam, Abul Hossain, Mohammad Robin, Pranotosh Kumar, goalkeeper Zia, veteran striker Alfaz Ahmed, defender Amit Khan Shuvro, defenders Arup Kumar Baddya and Monayem Khan Jitu.
Mohammedan, who disappointed in last season's Bangladesh League, have lost the most number of stars such as Emily, Aminul, Wali, Mamunul, Ariful to Sheikh Jamal and later lost Arman Aziz, Sharif, Nasir and Saikat to Muktijoddha.
All these players are just a step away from officially coming under the clubs' umbrella as they have to put pen to paper at the BFF headquarters.
According to sources, Mamun Mia is the only player who could create a bit of a problem as Sheikh Russell Krira Chakra has claimed that Mamun has taken money in advance from them although the player himself claims to be in Abahani's books and has already won the Bordoloi Trophy with the Dhanmondi giants.
Tomorrow could see some of the bigger clubs coming with all their players and finishing the formalities but that too, is a forgone conclusion.