Giants get easy groups
All the traditional powerhouses got easy groups in the Independence Cup when the draw for the season's closing 12-team tournament was held as the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) house in Motijheel yesterday.
On the basis of their standing in last season's professional football league, participating teams were put into three pots before the draw. Giants like defending champions Chittagong Abahani, last year's runners-up Dhaka Abahani and last year's semifinalists Sheikh Jamal were placed in seemingly easy groups, out of which the top two teams will advance to the quarterfinals.
The advantage might now last though as participating teams will be allowed to field only local players. The tournament will begin on January 16 at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
“We are going to complete the professional football league amid a lot of odds. This time the championship fight has already taken place while the relegation fights are ongoing. We said before that the Independence Cup will be held this season,” said BFF senior vice president Abdus Salam Murshedy at the press conference yesterday.
The tournament may face a few pauses as Saif SC will play two matches in the AFC Cup Qualifiers play-off against TC Sports of Maldives, the first being on January 23 in Dhaka while the second is on January 30 in Male.
Group A: Mohammedan, Rahmatganj, Sheikh Jamal
Group B: Farashganj, Muktijoddha Sangsad, Brothers Union
Group C: Team BJMC, Sheikh Russel, Abahani
Group D: Saif SC, Arambagh, Chittagong Abahani
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