MSC vs Abahani: Part II

Be it exhibition or competitive, the tension seems to hang around an Abahani-Mohammedan clash.

It would be no different when the two arch rivals take the field today for the second match of the Best of 3 Teletalk Series, organised by the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) to raise fund for the victims of Cyclone Sidr.

After Monday's dramatic end of the first match both the sides will miss known faces when the match kicks off at 4.30pm at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

Mohammedan, who lead the series 1-0 after winning 5-4 on penalties after a goalless draw in the first encounter, will be without Hassan Al Mamun while Abahani miss Arif Khan Joy - both serving a one-match ban following their sent-off-decisions. However, they will return for the third and final match on Friday.

Mohammedan coach Shafiqul Islam Manik has also been handed a touchline ban for today's match.

After an emergency meeting on Monday night, the disciplinary committee of the BFF has asked Manik not to enter the ground in the second match for 'hurting the spirit of the game'.

Manik, a former national footballer, led his side's refusal to play when referee Tayeb Hassan ignored an appeal for a goal.

The referee has also been show-caused for losing grip over the game in the injury time.

Abahani meanwhile, threatened yesterday they would consider not playing the rest of the matches if the federation did not take any steps against the guilty.

BFF officials confirmed last night they have received Abahani's letter and felt that both sides would not mind after the punishments served.

Both sides will make changes but Abahani will have to find a new captain in absence of Joy. Nazrul and Pradeep, who did not play the first match, are the two candidates to wear the sky-blues' armband.

The BFF meanwhile, was hoping to bank on the tension created around this match by selling more tickets as the response for the opening match was rather poor.

It was learned that only 7,000 tickets worth Tk 2,05,000 were sold for the first match.