Foreigners rule the roost

With Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club taking on Abahani in the first semifinal of KFC Independence Cup today, and the second semifinal between Sheikh Russel KC and Chittagong Abahani scheduled for tomorrow, the management of the four teams will certainly bank on their foreign strikers to shine through once more.

Like the previous seasons, the foreign strikers have been the dominant force in determining the fates of the games in the group stages, striking at least one goal each in 23 out of the 30 group-stage matches, four of which ended in goalless draws.

While the local players have struggled to find the back of the net regularly, striking only 22 goals (0.73 goals per match on average) out of a total of 81, the foreign recruits have struck 59 goals (1.96 goals per match on average). Hence the top five goalscorers' positions were unsurprisingly occupied by the foreigners.

Out of those 81 goals, the four semifinalist teams have scored 38 goals, with their foreign strikers scoring 32 goals while the eight other participating clubs have scored 43 goals, out of which 27 came from foreign recruits.

Furthermore the four hattricks recorded in the tournament so far have been scored by foreign strikers -- Wedson Anselme of Sheikh Jamal, Fikru Teferra of Sheikh Russel, Kolo Musa of Muktijoddha and Eleta Kingsley of Team BJMC.

The goalscoring chart is still being led by Eleta with six goals, followed by Wedson, Fikru and Musa on five goals each. 

Among the locals, national striking pair of Nabib Newas Jibon of Abahani and Shakhawat Hossain Rony of Sheikh Russel have hardly got any opportunities to start due to preference of foreign strikers. However, both of them got a few chances as substitutes, but failed to score.

National discards Zahid Hasan Emily and Mithun Chowdhury have got regular game-time, but they have been far from their prime time while only winger Zahid Hossain, who is spending a year-long ban from the national team, has been in good form as he scored three goals in four matches and assisted a number of goals scored by Fikru.

Among the current national squad players, only midfielder Mashuk Mia Johnny scored twice and winger Jewel Rana struck one while players like Sohel Rana, Mamunul Islam, Hemanta Vincent Biswas, Atiqur Rahman Fahad, Jamal bhuiyan are out of action either due to either injury or owing to a court verdict.