With three weeks still left to the resumption of the hockey inter-club players' transfers window, Mohammedan SC have already made a buzz by confirming three of the top national players. Rasel Mahmud Jimmy, Kamruzzaman Rana and Imran Hasan Pintu have reportedly signed fresh contracts with the club for a big amount of payment.
The Black and Whites are also in discussion with Abahani players Mamunur Rahman Chayan, Moshiur Rahman Biplob and Puskor Khisha Mimo in a bid to defend their title. The three-day transfer will begin from February 15, nearly two and a half years after the last transfer took place in 2009.
Jimmy has reportedly been paid Tk 6 lakhs, the highest payment in hockey transfer history, breaking the earlier payment record of Tk 4.5 lakhs that he got from Mohammedan two seasons ago.
Chayan is also set to get Tk 6 lakhs though the penalty corner specialist is bargaining for Tk 6.5 lakhs. It has been learnt that Pintu, Rana and the other players are getting somewhere around Tk 4 lakhs.
“Yes, I am going to play for Mohammedan this season too which has been confirmed 15 days ago,” said Jimmy adding that he has already been paid the whole amount.
“Since the 2009-10 transfer, the players have been virtually sitting idle as there were no competitions. However, the amount that Mohammedan is paying this time will compensate for that to some extent,” said the national striker.
“The way Mohammedan is approaching the players is positive and I think they are going to form the best possible team this season,” said Jimmy.
Mohammedan have already appointed former captain Ariful Haque Prince as team manager as well as the club's representative at the hockey league committee.
Prince informed that they are on the verge of roping in Chayan, Mimo and Biplob from Abahani and Shamsuddin Tuhin from Usha Krirachakra and hope of signing them within a few days.
Besides, Mohammedan has also sought the permission of BKSP authority for three of its players -- Sarwar, Khurshed and Rocky.
“Our budget for the players is more than Tk one crore. Out of this amount, Tk 60 lakhs is likely to be spend for the 15 local players while Tk 40 lakhs will be spent for recruiting foreign players,” said the former national striker.
Mohammedan's director-in-charge Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan also ensured that they are going to form a strong side this season and they have already sought the help of former Pakistan players like Shahbaz Ahmed for the recruitment of quality Pakistani players.