Mamunul's Tk 60-lakh move to Ctg Abahani

Bangladesh captain Mamunul Islam yesterday signed a one-year deal with big spenders Chittagong Abahani club. The 28-year-old midfielder, who spent the last season with Bangladesh Premier League champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, signed the deal for 60 lakh taka, it has been learnt.

“It is a pleasure for me to be able to play for the club of my hometown. As per my knowledge, no Chittagong club have ever won the league title or the federation cup title. If I and the other players who are joining the club can deliver that success, it would be a great achievement for the club and the football lovers of Chittagong,” Mamunul told reporters after the agreement signing ceremony at the corporate office of the club's football committee chairman, Ruhul Amin Tarafder.

Tarafder, who is also the chairman Saif Powertec Ltd, expressed his satisfaction over the signing of the country's best midfielder.

“I am very happy with getting Mamunul in my club and we have done everything according to the guidelines of the football federation,” claimed the businessman.

After finishing ninth among 11 teams in the premier league last season, Chittagong Abahani spent took number of national players on loan and won the inaugural Sheikh Kamal Club Cup International Football Tournament title towards the end of the year. And ahead of the new season, they have already reportedly signed up national team players like Raihan Hasan, Sohel Rana, Ashraful Islam Rana, Nasiruddin Chowdhury, Yeamin Munna, Toklish Ahmed, Rubel Mia and a few others.

However, the club have recently been dealt a blow by the sudden departure of coach Shafiqul Islam Manik. The club officials claimed that they would bring in a quality foreign coach soon for the next season.