3 Fed Cup semifinalists in group of death
With the flavour of the Federation Cup still fresh, another tournament -- the Independence Cup -- is set to roll on December 1 at the Bangabandhu National Stadium with three of the semifinalists of the just-concluded tournament being placed in 'Group of Death.'
Big-spending Bashundhara Kings, former Independence Cup champions Sheikh Russel KC and former runners-up Sheikh Jamal DC – the three semifinalists-- have been placed in Group D, with two teams from each group slated to advance into the quarterfinals. Bashundhara Kings became runners-up after losing to Abahani in an entertaining final of the Federation Cup on November 23.
It is mentionable that Bashundhara Group, one of the largest business conglomerates of the country, is patronising all the three clubs.
Defending champions Arambagh KS were, however, pitted in a relatively easy Group A along with Saif SC and Team BJCM while Federation Cup's hattrick champions Abahani were pitted against Brothers Union and Muktijoddha Sangsad in Group C.
Season's curtain-raiser Federation Cup was very competitive and the final between Abahani and Bashundhara Kings was exciting one except for unsavoury incidents towards the end of the match which resulted in four players getting marching orders and hundreds of spectators entering the ground, posing risk to the security of the players.
“Many may feel hurt watching the brawl among the players during the Federation Cup final but applying physical force is part of the game. I think this time the standard of the tournament was very high and the final was entertaining,” BFF senior vice-president Abdus Salam Murshedy opined during the ceremony.
“However, the BFF Disciplinary Committee is working on punishing the guilty players and the decision will be made before the start of the Independence Cup. We will also try to have more members of law enforcement at the Independence Cup to ensure utmost security of the players,” added Murshedy.
The last edition of the Independence Cup was held without foreign players but this time the foreign players are eligible to play.
The matches of the group stages will be held between December 1 and 9 while the quarterfinals will take place from December 11 to 14. The tournament will be suspended from December 15 to 18. The final will be held on December 24 after the semifinals taking place on December 19 and 20.
Groups
Group A: Saif SC, Arambagh, Team BJMC
Group B: Chittagong Abahani, Mohammedan, Rahmatganj , NoFeL
Group C: Abahani, Brothers Union, Muktijoddha Sangsad
Group D: Sheikh Jamal DC, Sheikh Russel KC, Bashundhara Kings
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