We brought back people's love for Mohammedan, says Alfaz

Mohammedan coach Alfaz Ahmed said it was time for the club to pay back for the sacrifice of the players and the coaching staff after guiding the Black and Whites to their first professional football league title.

The former national team captain, along with his charges, watched on Youtube as their closest rivals, Abahani, got beaten 2-1 by Fortis FC at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla on Saturday afternoon, effectively handing the Bangladesh Premier League to Mohammedan with three games in hand.

Their first title in 18 years of professional football era also ended a 23-year-wait for Bangladesh's most successful club. The 89-year-old club had gone through a lot of ups and downs this century -- having won their last title in 2002 when the league was called Dhaka Premier Division League -- before making a bit of a resurgence under Alfaz, a prodigal son of the club.

Following the success, Alfaz said that their biggest satisfaction is bringing back the love and conviction of legions of fans.

Mohammedan players and fans celebrate their success at the club tent in Motijheel. Photo: MSC

"What we have done is bring back people's love for the club. We have instilled belief that we can beat teams like Bashundhara Kings," the 51-year-old coach told The Daily Star over phone from the club tent.

Abahani, the six-time BPL winners, had the chance to delay Mohammedan's title party had they even been able to register a draw. However, Abahani's defeat against 10-man Fortis had set the players and coaching staff up for party mood.

Alfaz, though, isn't entirely convinced that they should start the party already. He feels their success will only be meaningful once they are rewarded by the club management, both figuratively and literally.

In the wake of the change in political landscape last year, many sporting clubs have suffered, not the least of whom were Mohammedan themselves. The club has struggled to pay the salaries to the players and the coaching staff, with close to three months' salaries remaining unpaid. Alfaz believes the club's 20th top-tier league title -- the most in Bangladesh's domestic football -- was a result of the sacrifice of the coaching staff and the players as well as contribution of the club's president and the football committee chairman.

"We want that everyone gets paid their dues," Alfaz said. "You don't win championships every other day. We have brought the trophy to Mohammedan. That needs to be taken into cognizance by the club officials. It's time for the officials to pay back."

Under Alfaz, Mohammedan had shown resurgence over the last three seasons. They had won the Federation Cup title in 2022-23 season and reached the final last year too. They lost the final to Bashundhara Kings and endured the same fate in both league and Independence Cup.

There was belief, Alfaz said, that the club could become league champions this time, focusing all their energy on this title. Led by their inspirational skipper Souleymane Diabate, Mohammedan notched 38 points from 15 matches, having lost only once and drawing only two matches with a positive goal difference of 26.

Diabate has been an integral part of Mohammedan's resurgence, wearing the captain's armband while leading with goals and assists in Mohammedan's success over the last few years. Courted by other clubs time and again, Diabate stayed put at the shabby Mohammedan club tent. On Saturday, Diabate felt his prayers have been answered.

"It is a dream come true for me. I've been here for six or seven years. Many teams wanted me to leave Mohammedan but I told them I want to stay here to give something to Mohammedan. Alhamdulillah my prayers came true and my dream also came true," the Malian told reporters at the club tent.