Bashundhara, MSC, Abahani in same group
Two-time champions Mohammedan and defending champions Abahani were pitted against new powerhouse Bashundhara Kings in what is believed to be the Group of Death of the Walton U-18 Football Tournament, which will begin at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on September 12.
The draw for the youth tournament, featuring 12 sides from the 2018-19 Bangladesh Premier League clubs, was held at the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) house yesterday in presence of all the club representatives except for Abahani.
Although the event will be held for the fourth time, the game’s local governing body will again hold it in a tournament format instead of much-demanded league format.
“We pledge to hold it in league format from next year. Due to a lot of local and international engagements, we are having to hold it in tournament format this time too,” BFF senior vice-president Abdus Salam Murshedy told the media following the draw and logo unveiling.
“Team BJMC [the 13th team in the Premier League of the 2017-18 season] have opted to not participate in the tournament,” Murshedy added.
The preparation from the clubs’ perspective has been a mixed one, with Saif Sporting Club and Bashundhara Kings having taken long-term preparation while most of the other teams have had only a weeks’ training so far.
Mohammedan team manager Zahid Hasan Emily, a former captain of the national team, said his side have had minimal preparation.
“Mohammedan have always been strong in age-group football. However, the reality is that two weeks’ training is not good enough for a tournament like this. We are in a strong group, but if we can win a game in the group stage, it will get easier to move into the final,” Emily said.
Minhazul Islam, general secretary of Bashundhara Kings, said his side have selected around 45 players from around 5000 for a 45-day camp for this tournament. “We have chosen players from a previous trial earlier in the year. Our plan is long-term, to develop these players for the senior club teams.”
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