Can Sk Jamal end on high?

Sheikh Jamal DC's interim coach Wasim Iqbal (C) speaks during a press briefing at the BFF House yesterday about his side's chances in the Super Cup. PHOTO: STAR

Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club are looking forward to putting a frustrating season behind by winning the season-ending Super Cup.
The former premier league champions took the lead in both the Federation Cup and Independence Cup finals, but eventually surrendered the titles to Sheikh Russel. They were also in joint lead with their nemesis, but faltered in the end to finish behind Sheikh Russel. However this time they want to take lesson from their mistakes to win the Super Cup, which gets underway from Friday.
“We had to finish runners-up in three meets due to some of our mistakes. Now we have been working hard under a new coach (Wasim Iqbal) in a bid to end the season on high. Our target is to win the Super Cup,” said Sheikh Jamal captain Hasan Al Mamun at the official press briefing at the BFF House yesterday.
Nevertheless interim coach Wasim Iqbal, who stepped in as regular coach Joseph Afusi went on leave, will have to deal with a couple of hurdles. Wasim will have to deal with injuries to some of his key players while he has a very short span of time to know his charges and to find proper replacement to the foreign players.
The injury problems have forced Sheikh Jamal DC to rope in five young players from their academy, along with free-agent midfielder Manwar Hossain while they get back the services of fit-again Monaem Khan Raju.
“The players have nothing to be taught at this level. My job is to bring consistency and I think the players are good in technique and thinking. I think they will be able to put up good show on the pitch,” said the former star national booter, who last coached Brothers Union in the fourth Bangladesh Premier League.
Brothers Union, who are also in Sheikh Jamal's group, want to bring back some of their past glory through the Super Cup.
“We want to take match by match to ensure the semifinal first. As it is a fight among local players, I believe my boys can fight well against any side,” said Brothers manager Amer Khan.
Brothers, trophyless since 2005, reached the semfinal of the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2009 before being eliminated by Abahani.