Nigerian coach Joseph Afusi arrived here yesterday to take charge of the Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club for the rest of the season in a bid to guide the holders to retaining the championship of the ongoing professional football league.

Sheikh Jamal are three points ahead of their nearest rivals at the end of the first leg of the Bangladesh Premier League, but the club management sacked coach Maruful Haque and appointed its former coach Afusi, who will now guide Sheikh Jamal in the Bangladesh Premier League and AFC Cup in August.

Under the guidance of Afusi, Sheikh Jamal won the Federation Cup and became runners-up last season. While local coach Maruful Haque helped Sheikh Jamal win Bhutan's King's Cup and this season's Federation Cup and also kept the Dhanmondi-based outfit on top of the 11-team Premier League table.