Reinforced sides start second leg

The second phase of the Manyavar Bangladesh Premier League gets underway today when league leaders Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club (23 points) take on bottom-of-the-table Farashganj SC (4 points) at the Bangabandhu National Stadium at 4:15pm. The opening match will be followed by the fixture between four-time champions Abahani and Rahmatganj MFS at 7:30pm.

Sheikh Jamal had beaten today's opponents by 4-1 goals in the corresponding fixture of the first leg. However, there have been some changes at the champions' side since. They have brought back former coach Joseph Afusi after terminating contract with Maruful Haque at the end of the first leg. The Dhanmondi giants have also strengthened their attack by recruiting Nigerian forwards Abdullahi Musa and Johnson Chigozie in the mid-term transfer window.

However, these two players will not take part in today's match as they are yet to arrive in Dhaka. Sheikh Jamal have also been dealt some injury blows as centre-backs Nasiruddin Chowdhury, Yeasin Ahmed and forwards Shakhawat Rony, Emeka Darlington are all expected to miss out today's match.

It will be interesting to see whether Afusi, who gave the Dhanmondi giants their first league title back in 2011, can consolidate the lead at the top, which is now only three points.

Abahani, who are six points off the pace, will hope that their new recruits can eradicate their old problem of lack of scoring and thereby mount a challenge for the title, which they last won in the 2011-12 season. Abahani were held to a 2-2 draw by Rahmatganj in the corresponding fixture of the first leg.

The Sky Blues, who have former Bangladesh coach George Kottan at the helm, have reinforced the side by including Nigerian striker Sunday Chizoba and Gambian forward Abdou Darboe.

Abahani's opponents Rahmatganj MFS, who are in seventh position with nine points, have also strengthened their side by recruiting Guinean Lamine Camara and Nigerian Divine Lucky.

A total of 24 players including 19 foreigners were drafted in by 10 premier league sides during the mid-term transfer window while Brothers Union, who are on 20 points, did not bolster their strength.

Three matches are scheduled for tomorrow. In Dhaka, Feni Soccer will take on Muktijoddha Sangsad while Team BJMC will play against Brothers Union. Away in Chiottagong, Chittagong Abahani will host Mohammedan SC.

Meanwhile, former champions Sheikh Russel, who got rid of Montenegrin coach Dragan Djukanovic and brought back Maruful Haque, have no matches in this round of fixtures.

After his appointment, Maruful had asked for strengthening the side and his wish was fulfilled as the club, now bankrolled by Bashundhara Group, roped in Bosnian forward Damir Ibric at a monthly wage of 10,000 dollars and also recruited Cameroonian Yonta Michael.