Namesake new champs

Chittagong Abahani wrote a piece of history by winning their first top-flight title after a 2-0 victory over their illustrious Dhaka counterparts in the final of the KFC Independence Cup at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

Second-half strikes from Lionel Saint Preux and Rubel Mia gave the port city side their first domestic title, which cones six months after a successful campaign in the Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup.

A team which was till last year regarded as relegation battlers in the top-flight football, and only came into light after clinching the Sheikh Kamal Club Cup, can now be considered a dominating force for the upcoming professional league. The triumph is even more worthwhile considering the fact that they had to play the tournament without five key players – Mamunul Islam, Sohel Rana, Raihan Hasan, Nasir Chowdhury and Yeamin Ahmed Munna -- due to a court verdict.

Ahead of the final, Dhaka Abahani were considered the better side on paper as well as performance of the previous two matches against Sheikh Russel KC and Sheikh Jamal DC, but the four-time premier league champions failed to live up to the expectations when it mattered most.

With wingers Zahid Hossain and Rubel wreaking havoc from the wings and Preux proving a constant threat, Abahani defenders were kept on their toes throughout the match.

Defender Rezaul Karim came close to giving the port city side the lead in the 24th minute, but his close-range attempt at near post was cleared for a corner by Abahani goalkeeper Sultan Ahmed Shakil before Mamun Khan made a brilliant clearance to deny Preux two minutes before from the break.

The deadlock was finally broken ten minutes after restart when Zahid, capitalising on a miss-pass from Faisal Mahmud, put a defence-splitting through-ball for Preux, who raced into the box and rounded up Shakil before driving it into far corner of the net. Rubel then doubled the margin seven minutes later, executing a bicycle kick on a cross from Kaushik Barua.

Abahani had a chance to pull one back but Mohammad Ibrahim denied Faisal's effort with a goalline save one minute from the end as Abahani’s long cup title-drought extended.

Preux, later adjudged player-of-the-tournament, said that Chittagong Abahani were the worthy winners. “I did my best to show the people who I am. I think now everybody should know the quality of Chittagong Abahani, with good local and foreign players,” said the Haitian striker.

Rubel, whose goal was hailed as a special effort by all and sundry, said he made good use of the chance he was given.

“As five players couldn't play the tournament, I wanted to take my chance. My target was to show the coach my potential. The coach encouraged me to play my own game and I tried my best,” said the youngster.