'Foreign players will make the difference'
Coaches and players of various clubs feel that the foreign players will make the difference when it comes to winning titles of domestic competitions in the upcoming season.
The football season is scheduled to get underway on October 22 with the Federation Cup. Eight out of the 13 clubs -- Team BJMC, Chittagong Abahani, Mohammedan SC, Rahmatganj MFS, Abahani, Sheikh Jamal DC, Brothers Union and Arambagh KS -- completed their pre-season players' registration formalities at the Bangladesh Football Federation on the deadline date yesterday, with five other clubs -- NoFeL Sporting, Saif SC, Sheikh Russel KC, Bashundhara Kings and Muktijoddha Sangsad having completed theirs' on the previous days. The window had opened on July 15.
Mohammedan, who finished fourth in the league last season and have not won a single league title since the introduction of the professional league 11 years ago, do not have title hopes, according to club manager Amirul Islam Babu.
“We did not have good foreigners last time, but we have some good ones this time. However, we don't have any target. I think there will not be much difference among locals, but the clubs whose foreign players will do well will win titles,” Babu said, adding that they have four foreigners, including Kingsley Chigozie who played for them last season, in three different positions.
After allowing only two foreigners last season, the game's local governing body has allowed four foreign players to be fielded in matches this time, with one of those players allowed under the Asian quota.
Mohammedan captain Zahid Hasan Emily echoed the manager's sentiment. “Our foreign collection is better than last season. We don't expect to be champions but we can do well. We have good players in midfield and attacking positions,” said the veteran forward.
The Black and Whites have been training under new English coach Christopher Evans for the last four weeks.
Defending champions Abahani will once again be the team to beat in the upcoming season as they have five current national players and other proven campaigners as well as four quality foreign players. Successful striker Sunday Chizoba will lead the lines in attack alongside Haitian forward Kervens Belfort, who featured in the Copa America three times. Afghanistan's Masih Saigani and Korean midfielder Minhyeok Ko will round up the foreigners' quota while the national team's Waly Faisal, Topu Barman, Tutul Hossain Badshah alongside national discard Yeasin Ahmed will take care of the defence. However, the record seven-time champions have not yet appointed a coach for the upcoming season. It has been learnt that former Team BJMC coach Zakaria Babu is currently conducting the squad's training as the team search for a new foreign coach.
Meanwhile Chittagong Abahani, who made a brilliant start last season, reaching the final of the Independence Cup and leading the league for most of the duration before eventually finishing third, have formed a mediocre side this time around with a handful of national discards and four mediocre foreign players.
The most exciting team on paper though are newcomers Bashundhara Kings. The Bangladesh Championship League winners of last season have formed a star-studded side, with nine national team players and four foreign players including 2018 World Cupper Daniel Colindres of Costa Rica.
The newcomers, who have been in training under Spanish coach Oscar Bruzon, are eyeing all the silverware.
“The target is to win all the trophies, that's how we formed our squad. Competing in the AFC Cup is also a target,” club president Imrul Hasan said of his side.
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