Abahani Start Training

B. League champions Abahani Ltd Dhaka will prepare for more than a month for their return to Asian club football competition after nearly a decade.

Abahani, who last played in the now-defunct Asian Cup Winners Cup in the 90s, will participate in the third edition of the AFC President's Cup to be held in Kathmandu next April.

Abahani, who won the right to play in the third-ranked AFC competition after winning the country's inaugural professional league last year, will start training on March 10.

Manager and former player Satyajit Das Rupu informed that the sky-blues have retained almost their full squad for the coming second B. League in addition of rising stars Robin and Sony from fellow professional league clubs Farashganj and Rahamatganj respectively, who will make the trip to Nepal.

Rupu added that their Ghanaian forward Awdu Ibrahim will be available within a couple of days and he will bring along another foreign recruit.

Abahani have been drawn in a tough group for the April 20-24 meet involving host team Nepal Police, who reached last year's final in Pakistan, Regar-Tadaz of Tajikistan - winners of the inaugural President's Cup - and Pakistan Wapda.

Abahani Face Nepal Police in Opener

Abahani will return to international club football after a long time when they face last year's runners-up and host club Nepal Police Club in the opening match of the AFC Presidents Cup qualifying Group A in Kathmandu on April 20.

Bangladesh professional league champions Abahani, who last participated in an Asian club competition back in the 90s, have been drawn in a tough group and will play former champions Regar-Tadaz of Tajikistan on April 22.

Abahani's last group opposition are Pakistan Army, winners of their national competition.

All the matches will be played at the Dashrath Stadium at the heart of Nepal's capital.

Abahani's Victory Day

Abahani triumphed in the first tournament of the year when they edged underdogs Arambagh Krira Sangha 3-2 in an entertaining final, in the Protiti Pharma Victory Day Club Cup yesterday.

Zahid Hasan Emily and Abul Hossain made up for missing the semifinal victory against event hosts Mohammedan due to suspension with first-half strikes while player of the tournament Zahed Parvez fired the decisive goal after the break to bolster the 6,000-strong Abahani fans at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

Arambagh, who refused to sit back, reduced the arrears through Kenyan player Domenic and guest midfielder Rezaul Karim Liton but failed to equalise despite threatening to score in the last quarter of the game.

Arambagh, who had lost 2-1 to Abahani in their first major final in the Federation Cup 11 years ago, looked menacing on set-pieces but two attempts by Liton - on loan from Brothers Union - hardly troubled Biplab at the sky-blues goal.

Abahani, who overcame a poor start with composed performance following a shock 1-0 loss to Badda Jagarani in the opener of the eight-team meet, found their rhythm soon and Ujjal forced Arambagh custodian Piru to keep the ball away.

The resulting corner in the 18th minute put Amalesh Sen's professional league champions ahead when Ujjal picked up Nazrul at the far post and the centre-back's headed pass was nodded into the back of the net by Abul.

Five minutes later, Emily made it 2-0 when he shot a rebound home for his fourth goal in the competition after Zahed's shot ricocheted off Piru.

The sky-blues were in total control but woodwork denied the Dhanmondi giants from a third goal when Zahed rattled the crossbar four minutes later.

Domenic, who earlier tested Biplab with a curling freekick, then brought Arambagh back with a sublime shot in the 35th minute. Imu floated a freekick from the right and Domenic, raring to go at the left, drilled a first-time volley with his left into the far corner.

Domenic came close to level the scores four minutes from the breather but his effort from 15 yards was brilliantly parried by a diving Biplab.

The national goalkeeper was working overtime and was as sharp as ever to thwart Liton's close-range drive just two minutes after resumption.

Despite unfit skipper Joy limping, Abahani regrouped and man-of-the-final Emily saw his powerful header blocked by a defender in the 52nd minute.

With second-choice holding midfielder Pranotosh unavailable for family commitments, fullback Mintu replaced Joy a minute later but it proved almost fatal as Abahani lost territorial advantage after their third goal in the 49th minute.

Sent racing into the box by Zahed, Emily fired a low drive but the tournament top scorer's shot was deflected by Piru who, however, could not stop an onrushing Zahed from slotting the ball into the open net.

Robin came in for Tipu but even the fresh legs of the young striker could not help his teammates, who began to fall further behind.

Biplab, otherwise perfect, almost gifted a goal when he waited too long for the ball to cross the line, allowing Domenic to snatch possession and cut it back. However, Wali's sliding tackle denied Liton a shot on the open goal in the 71st minute.

The two-goal cushion in the end, rescued Abahani as an aggressive Arambagh found the net 11 minutes from time. Liton, set by a square pass from Monu, shrugged off his marker Nazrul and survived a late tackle by Wali inside the box to shoot a low drive into Biplab's left hand post.

Joy admitted that Abahani drifted away from the game towards the end.

"This match was not like our previous three games. I could not give my full effort and I think the boys, after early goals, did not take Arambagh very seriously," the Abahani captain said.

"After going 2-0 up, we should have dominated the whole show. It was not so."

Zahed, who made his Premiership debut in 2002, said it was the most memorable event in his career.

"I had a wonderful tournament and I am pleased the way I have played. I have never performed so consistently in a tournament before," said the midfielder, who was not even in the line-up for Abahani's first match but won two awards for the tournament's best player.

Bangladesh National Sports Council chairman and Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed, who was introduced to the finalists before the match, later distributed trophies as chief guest.

Bangladesh Olympic Association acting secretary-general Kutubuddin Ahmed and tournament organisers Mohammedan Sporting Club officials were also present.

Giants vs Pretenders

Favourites Abahani will have momentum behind them as they look to secure the Protiti Pharma Victory Day Club Cup tournament with a win over underdogs Arambagh in the final today.

The match between the Dhanmondi-based giants and their Motijheel counterparts will take place at the Bangabandhu National Stadium with kick-off scheduled for 4:15 pm.

Having fallen to a surprise defeat in their opening game of the tournament to Badda Jagarani, Abahani have looked stronger with every passing game and reached the final by overturning arch rivals and tournament hosts Mohammedan with a virtuoso performance.

Attacking midfielder Ujjal starred in that game, but the utility player could find himself in the bench with two stars set to return for the final.

“Both Emily and Abul are set to come back into the team (both sat out the semifinal to prevent suspension),” confirmed club captain Arif Khan Joy - a sign that could only bode well for Abahani.

“Our greatest strength is the depth we have in the squad. We can play well even without some of our first choice players, as we showed against Mohammedan.

"And if we can maintain the good rhythm that we have struck, than I am sure of a positive outcome,” said the shaven-headed midfielder.

As regards to surprise package Arambagh in the final, Joy assured that his team was not taking the underdogs lightly.

“A final is a final. We go into it hoping to play our best. Since they have come this far, they are also a good side.”

Coach Satyajit Das Rupu also echoed his captain's comments.

“Since the loss to Badda, the only way we have gone is up. We started on a low but we want to make up for it by ending on a high,” said Rupu.

For their part, Arambagh are revelling at the lack of pressure, maintaining that they are well groomed to spring an upset.

They will have their work cut out though as guest midfielder Rezaul Karim Liton, who scored in the semifinal victory, will be unavailable.

Despite that fact, coach Kazi Jolly seemed confident that they would provide an able opponent for the local giants.

He said, “We have done well throughout the whole tournament and we want to go into the final hoping to play to the best of our abilities. If we can do that than I shall not rule out an upset.”

Captain Akram Hossain, similarly unfazed, said, “True that Abahani are a big and famous team and they have played together for a long time but our greatest strength is in our teamwork. We may not have their stars but collectively we can cause them problems.”

He was also equally pragmatic about forcing a result.

“We will give it our best shot and I am hoping we can spring a surprise.”

This is not the first time that Abahani and Arambagh will meet in the final of a local tournament.

Back in 1997, the sides met in the final of the Federation Cup, with the Sky Blues emerging as 2-1 winners in that contest.

And if they can repeat that scoreline, their coach and faithful following will have plenty to celebrate about tonight.

Abahani Beat Mohammedan to Reach Final

Abahani buried a wretched start to the Protiti Pharma Victory Day Club Cup when they knocked out arch rivals Mohammedan Sporting Club yesterday to reach the final of the year's first tournament.

Mehdi Hassan Ujjal's sublime second-half goal helped the sky-blues edge tournament hosts Mohammedan 1-0 in the second semifinal before a 15,000-strong holiday crowd at the Bangabandhu National Stadium to set a clash against Arambagh in tomorrow's final.

The two sides had met in one final previously, in the Federation Cup in 2000, with Abahani winning the title.

Amalesh Sen's B. League champions Abahani, who lost 1-0 to Senior Division side Badda Jagarani in the tournament opener but won the rest of the group games in style, started brightly despite missing key striker Emily and attacking midfielder Abul, both suspended following two bookings each.

On the other hand, the black and whites who came to the game on the back of a controversial group match against Arambagh, hardly impressed with five guest players in the starting lineup.

Dubbed 'unsporting' by the tournament committee, Mohammedan's 3-1 victory against Arambagh was scratched and both the teams were punished.

And Shafiqul Islam Manik's boys, probably the most inexperienced team fielded ever by the popular club, were lucky to survive a barrage of rival attacks in the first 45 minutes.

Abahani's guest striker Robin got plenty of chances to separate the two sides but his efforts in the 12 and 18 minutes went wide. Siraji fired a rebound just over Shakil's bar as Abahani began to get behind the five-man Mohammedan backline with almost every move.

Ujjal then sent a crossfield pass to Zahed Parvez at the right flank and the winger's low shot to the far post from ten yards, which certainly looked set to beat goalkeeper Shakil, was intercepted by centre-back and Mohammedan captain Biplab on the half hour.

With Abahani enjoying superior ball possession, Mohammedan midfielders were chasing shadows and whenever they won back the ball, miss passes marred their chances to go ahead.

Fullback Kamal, however, put Biplab to the test in the 37th minute but the Abahani custodian gripped a powerful centre in his second attempt, denying a lurking Charles Figo a shot at goal.

Figo threatened to score against run of play a couple of minutes later but his solo down the left was wasted as his low cross ran across the face of the goal harmlessly.

Abahani had two more chances in the rest of the entertaining first half but Shakil palmed away the ball off Tipu's feet on one on one while Ujjal and Zahed both failed to make most of the rebound.

Robin once again failed to utilise a through by skipper Joy when the youngster fired the ball wide of the far post on the brink of halftime.

Mohammedan made one change at the break but even before they settled, Ujjal struck a superb goal in the 50th minute.

The attacking midfielder himself initiated the move and was in the right position when Zahed drilled a square pass through a forest of legs from the right. Under pressure from two defenders, Ujjal chipped the ball over Shakil and into the net off the far post.

The Mohammedan defence was one man short at that moment as Jewel Rana was nursing a hamstring injury outside the pitch and the veteran guest defender played no more part in the game.

Shakil, another invited recruit, was graceful under pressure as he made a series of saves. Having denied low drives by Wali and Ujjal, the Mohammedan keeper parried a glancing header by Pranotosh to keep the side in the game. But substitute Arafat Rony failed to equalise in the 57th minute when he drove the ball straight to Biplab inside from the area.

Tipu should have scored on the hour but the veteran striker shot the ball onto Shakil after latching on a through by Wali.

Abahani had to remain satisfied with a slim win as man-of-the-match Ujjal, who was sent racing into the box by Nazrul's long overhead pass, saw his placing shot cleared by Ariful from the goalmouth after beating Shakil five minutes later.

Abahani's ultra defensive ploy afterwards and the decision to keep the tired forwards on the pitch gave Mohammedan the chance to go all out in the last 20 minutes but neither Farhad nor Figo managed to get the better of a solid Abahani defence.

A Final Before a Final

Mohammedan Sporting Club will look forward to rebuild a tarnished image following an 'unsporting' game against Arambagh in the group stage and the punishment they had received for it when they face archrivals Abahani in the second semifinal of the Protiti Pharma Victory Day Club Cup today.

The match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium will be telecast live by ATN Bangla from 4.15pm.

Everyone dreams about an Abahani-Mohammedan final whenever a tournament is being held. In a bid to avoid Abahani in the semis, event hosts Mohammedan looked set to lose their group match against eventual finalists Arambagh before crowd agitation forced the local giants to play for a win.

The tournament committee, however, forfeited Mohammedan's 3-1 win and fined Tk 50,000 each to both teams for 'hurting the spirit of the game'.

"I don't think the dispute surrounding Tuesday's match will influence my team tomorrow as they don't want to look back. All the players' focus is on the semifinal," black and whites coach Shafiqul Islam Manik said yesterday.

Manik, who has been using about five guest players, admitted his side will start as dark horse against an inform Abahani.

"We didn't have adequate preparation and there is little understanding among the players. Still, Abahani - who have showed superb team work so far - can be beaten if our players use their senses," the former national fullback added.

After resting half a dozen regulars against Arambagh, Manik will have all his booters available against the sky-blues, who will miss key striker Emily and attacking midfielder Abul.

Abahani coach Amalesh Sen thinks the Mohammedan-Arambagh match has hurt the spirit of the tournament as well as affecting his players.

"The tournament committee should have scratched both teams rather than just doing its duty by fining them," opined Amalesh. "It has upset my boys."

The former national midfielder claimed Abul was not shown two yellow cards but the tournament committee has banned him for the semifinal.

Abahani have appealed against the decision but missing Emily would seriously damage their firepower.

Abahani got off on the wrong foot when they lost 1-0 to Badda in the opener but Emily scored in both their wins against Wanderers and Muktijoddha.

It would also be a revenge mission for the sky-blues, who lost 2-1 last December in a three-match exhibition series between the two sides to raise fund for the victims of Cyclone Sidr.

Muktijoddha Out, Badda and Abahani in Semis

Zahed Parvez fired Abahani into the semifinals of the Protiti Pharma Victory Day Club Cup football tournament with one spectacular goal and an assist for Zahid Hassan Emily as the sky-blues knocked Muktijoddha Sangsad out of the competition with a 2-0 win yesterday.

B. League champions Abahani finished Group B runners-up to Senior Division side Badda Jagarani, who crushed Dhaka Wanderers 4-1 in the day's earlier match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium to win the group by virtue of a better goal difference.

Both teams ended level on six points while ousted professional league giants Muktijoddha were left in the cold with four points following their first defeat in the event.

In the day's first match, surprise pack of the tournament Badda displayed a lively brand of football to outplay fellow Senior Division side Wanderers.

Striker Rana, who set skipper Mintu to head home the opening goal after 26 minutes, doubled the lead in the 50th minute with a placing shot from close.

Wanderers reduced the arrears in the 70th minute when substitute Ashraful nodded in a pinpoint cross by left back and captain Jahangir but two late goals gave Badda the biggest victory of the tournament as well as the group championship.

Nasir picked up a weak clearance by rival goalie Niloy just outside the area and made it 3-1 with a clinical finish five minutes from time while Komol coolly placed the ball into the far corner after taking a square pass from man-of-the-match Rana in injury time.

Abahani, who suffered a shock 1-0 loss to Badda in the tournament opener, were under pressure to win the group finale but Muktijoddha, who needed just one point to join Badda in the last four, went for a draw from the start.

Maybe, this negative attitude resulted in too many fouls early into the crucial game with three Reds players being booked inside the first half hour compared to one from Abahani.

Kanchan was perhaps the luckiest player to play the full 90 minutes as he escaped with a yellow card following an off-the-ball infringement on Abahani midfielder Abul in the first half while his intentional handball after the break was surprisingly ignored by referee Ramkrishna Ghosh.

Muktijoddha, however, got the first real chance when Arman's superb overhead through picked up Alfaz unmarked at the left flank but the veteran striker's first-time volley hit the crossbar much to the relief of a 3,000-strong Abahani fans.

Abahani got the breakthrough one minute before halftime when Ujjal's solo move down the left unsettled the three-man Muktijoddha central defence.

After two efforts to shoot on goal were spoiled by opposition challenge inside the penalty area, Ujjal rolled the ball back towards Zahed whose low left-footed drive from 20 yards gave Aminul no chance at the goal.

Abahani came close to make it 2-0 in the stoppage time but Tipu's curling freekick was brilliantly palmed over the bar by Aminul.

Aminul saved a drop-volley by Tipu while Alfaz shot the ball over in an otherwise dull second half when the sky-blues played the waiting game in a bid to hold onto the slim lead.

It paid off when a sudden burst by Zahed helped Abahani seal the victory in the 77th minute. The diminutive winger, adjudged man-of-the-match, chased a long pass from the midfield and sent a crossfield centre from the right flank for an onrushing Emily to nod the ball into Aminul's left-hand post.

Down and out, Muktijoddha never had the steam to come back from two goals down and avoid a premature exit.

Giants Back on Track

Abahani and Muktijoddha Sangsad both won to bounce back into contention in the Protiti Pharma Victory Day Club Cup football tournament at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

After a 1-0 shock loss to Badda Jagarani, the B. League champions showed the gulf of difference between them and Dhaka Wanderers with a 3-1 win in the evening after Muktijoddha gave a good account of themselves, beating Badda 2-1 in the day's first match. Muktijoddha played out a goalless draw with Wanderers on Friday.

First half goals from Alfaz Ahmed and Hasan Al Mamun gave Muktijoddha the footing they required after their first match debacle. Alfaz's angular shot from a Parvez Babu left-side delivery gave Muktijoddha their first goal in the 28th minute.

A minute later, wingback Mamun tapped in a simple chance in the six-yard box after Arman Aziz's volley rebounded off a Badda defender and fell close to Mamun. The second half petered on but Badda, the Senior Division team, were threatening to score. In the 87th minute, Milon latched on to a long ball but the crossbar stood between his shot and a second goal in the competition.

Badda's aggression at that late stage paid off in the final minute of injury time when Rana headed in a low cross from Milon.

Abahani, warming up on the eastern side of the ground during the final 15 minutes of the Muktijoddha-Badda match, knew they were in a must-win situation after Muktijoddha's exploits.

It was captain Arif Khan Joy who broke the shackles after a cagey first 15 minutes. But the experienced midfielders' shot flew over the bar.

In the next ten minutes, Abahani showed intent and it transpired into a goal albeit a lucky one. Shahajuddin Tipu probed into Badda's defence but his aimed cross towards Emily struck Anupam Barua's shoulder and went in, beating a wrong-footed goalkeeper Jahangir Alam.

Thirteen minutes later, Zahed Parvez's cross was meant for Tipu but that's when the beauty of the move unravelled. Tipu let it run and Emily slid the ball home from very close range.

Abahani went into cruise mode after Abul Hossain forced a good save from Jahangir. But the Sky Blues were jolted when Ashraful Islam's low volley found the net, in the 50th minute.

Abahani again went on the offensive, and in the 67th minute, it was Emily again who scored. This time, the young striker rounded off two defenders and the goalkeeper to tap in after having collected a cross from Zahed.

Emily missed two more clear-cut opportunities, having taken late decisions to shoot at Badda's post.

It was indeed the trio of Zahed, Tipu and Emily who ruled the Big Bowl on a chilly evening.

Badda Bite Abahani

B. League champions Abahani got off to a wretched start to the new season when they crashed 1-0 to Senior Division side Badda Jagarani in the opening match of the Protiti Pharma Club Cup football tournament yesterday.

Before a meagre 1,000 spectators, a freezing and dark evening at the Bangabandhu National Stadium turned nightmare for the professionals from Dhanmondi, who failed to make any impact even after conceding an early second half goal.

Two minutes after the break, Badda striker Milon capitalised on a defensive lapse between rival defenders Nazrul and Siraji to sneak inside the box before coolly placing a low left-footer into the near post of Biplab at the Abahani goal.

With a starting line-up featuring ten current and ex-Bangladesh internationals, everyone anticipated a fightback from the sky-blues who otherwise dominated the first half.

But even three changes by coach Amalesh Sen in the last half hour made no impact on Badda's lead.

Badda, among the top five in the ongoing Senior Division League, have suffered two defeats so far but their integrity was much better than the disoriented Abahani booters, who created only a half chance to equalise in the dying moments.

But Abul's header from a melee was brilliantly punched over by goalkeeper Nehal for a corner.

In the first half, Abahani enjoyed superior ball possession but it were their rivals who opened up the first real chance after 18 minutes. But skipper Mintu's sidevolley was off target after Nasir broke down the right.

A low drive by Pranotosh eight minutes later ran wide after beating Badda keeper Nehal, who made a diving save to deny Emily's glancing header on a cross by rightback Siraji on the half hour - the best chance of the game for the local giants.

Abahani's guest attacker Robin then picked up Tipu with a cheeky chip but the veteran, having raced past Nehal, shot the ball onto a defensive wall from a tight angle minutes later.

Abahani came alive in the last five minutes but Tipu's first attempt, a low header on a left-flank cross, missed the far post before the striker was denied by Rashed inside the sic-yard box.

Abahani's hopes to take the lead was dashed again when Emily's long range drive kissed the upper side of the crossbar in the 44th minute.

To ensure a place in the semifinals from the group, Abahani now must beat Dhaka Wanderers in their next match as well as contenders Muktijoddha Sangsad.

Earlier, organiser Mohammedan Sporting Club's efforts to stage a gala opening party for the eight-team meet was spoiled due to inclement weather as the performers carried out their tasks before almost empty stands.

After physical displays and 'circus' shows featuring motorbike rides and masked walkers, young boys who took part in the march, were visibly shaking from the cold.

The colourful folk dance also failed to heat the inhospitable conditions before Mahbub Jamil, special assistant to the Chief Adviser of the Caretaker Government, declared the event open.

Victory Day Cup Fixture List

Eight teams will be divided into 2 groups of four. Mohammedan, Arambagh, Victoria and Youngmen's make up Group A.

Abahani, Muktijoddha, Wanderers and Badda complete Group B.

Here are the fixtures, along with the date and time (BDT):

Jan 30th: Abahani v Badda (6pm)

Jan 31st: Arambagh v Victoria (3pm), Muktijoddha v Wanderers (5pm).

Feb 1st: Mohammedan v Youngmen's 5pm)

Feb 2nd: Muktijoddha v Badda 3pm), Abahani v Wanderers (5pm)

Feb 3rd: Arambagh v Youngmen's (3pm), Mohammedan v Victoria (5pm)

Feb 4th: Badda v Wanderers (3pm), Abahani v Muktijoddha (5pm)

Feb 5th: Victoria v Youngmen's (3pm), Mohammedan v Arambagh (5pm).

Feb 7th: Semi-final 1

Feb 8th: Semi-final 2

Feb 10th: Final

Victory Day Football Starts Today

While their footballers were going through their final preparations at the tiny ground inside the club premises, Mohammedan Sporting Club officials were proudly adding the finishing touch to their efforts to hold the season's first football tournament.

The Protiti Pharma Victory Day Club Cup football tournament, organised by Mohammedan, will begin today with their arch rivals and B. League champions Abahani facing rank outsiders Badda Jagarani in the opener.

Ex-Mohammedan stars including Zakaria Pintoo, who is also the tournament committee chairman, Salam Murshedi, Shafiqul Islam Manik, Kaiser Hamid, Rumman Wali Bin Sabbir, Ayaz, Panir, Titu and Imtiaz Ahmed Nakib were present at a official briefing and signed footballs (picture) that will be gifted to the fans at galleries today.

Although a colourful opening ceremony will start at 4pm at the Bangabandhu National Stadium, the match will kick off two hours later.

Mahbub Jamil, special assistant to the Chief Adviser of the Caretaker Government, who is in charge of the sports ministry, will declare the eight-team meet open.

The tournament, due to be held in December last year, was rescheduled for a January 26 start but had to be deferred again due to inclement weather.

Apart from four professional clubs Abahani, Mohammedan, Muktijoddha and Arambagh, Senior Division sides Victoria, Badda, Wanderers and Youngmen's Club Fakirerpool are competing in two groups.

Private satellite channel ATN Bangla is expected to telecast five matches live - the opener, the group match between giants Abahani and Muktijoddha, the two semifinals on February 7 and 8 and the February 10 final.

Although the three giants suffered from frequent absence of their booters during the month-long training, the minnows have prepared well because of their involvement in the ongoing Senior Division Football League.

The relatively inexperienced booters of Wanderers, Victoria, Fakirerpool and Badda will be under the guidance of veteran coaches like Wajed Gazi, Abu Yusuf, Mohammad Faruq and Maruful Haque who would be eager to use all their guiles to upset the big names.

The Senior Division clubs, however, will face a big problem of playing two tournaments - the League and the Club Cup - simultaneously, which could well see one team playing three matches on consecutive days.

The tournament will also mark two national players' comeback to competitive football after missing an entire season due to injury, centre-back Mohammed Sujan for Abahani and Muktijoddha goalkeeper Aminul Haque, who, however, returned to top-level action last December, playing for Mohammedan as a guest player in a three-match series against Abahani.

With the transfers for the new season coming soon, the tournament could well become a stage for the clubs to look for their future.

It would also give the promising players a chance to impress in key positions in the absence of foreign players with Mohammedan and Muktijoddha each having just one overseas player and Badda two.

Each of the eight clubs get Tk 50,000 as appearance money while co-sponsors Walton and G Hanz will give awards for best spectators, best player, best organiser and best referee.

Gallery tickets will cost Tk 100 (VIP), Tk 30 (west) and Tk 20 (east).

Giants Warmed Up

All eyes will be on the three local heavyweights when the Protiti Pharma Victory Day football tournament kicks off tomorrow at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

Mohammedan Sporting Club, organisers of the eight-team event, feel they are under no pressure to keep the trophy home.

Muktijoddha Sangsad, however, want to bag the trophy after a poor 2007 and believe that the Victory Day trophy would be better displayed at the home of the freedom fighters.

For Abahani, inaugural professional league champions last year, it would be a matter of prestige and a mission to establish their supremacy in the new season.

Although there had been no football in the capital for the last six months, the players, however, would not be unprepared as they go for the meet. Numerous tournaments outside Dhaka last year provided the footballers the chance to get tuned even in the off-season.

The clubs, however, never got the chance to train as a unit for long due the booters' frequent absence for the 'khap' or trips to different districts.

Mohammedan coach Shafiqul Islam Manik said their preparation was not 'adequate'.

"Players have been busy for 'khap' but we have taken it lightly for their financial benefit. I wanted them to train together for the past week but the weather did not permit that," said Manik adding that the black and whites were in an inferior position from last year's B. League, where they finished runners-up.

"We have lost the foreign imports who shaped our professional league performance. We were even better during the three-match series against Abahani, which we won. Now several important players are injured," the former national footballer told.

First-choice goalkeeper Himel is injured; his deputy Al Amin has been released for the Senior Division League while Belal and midfielders Mithu and Ripon are also unavailable.

Manik has invited goalies Shakil and Zia, veteran defender Jewel Rana and midfielders Faisal Mahmud and Monwar from Brothers Union and Chittagong Mohammedan's Saikat to feel in the gaps. Nigerian forward Charles Figo is the only foreign recruit.

"Abahani and Muktijoddha are in better shape. Sometimes the hosts have to sacrifice and I feel we are not under pressure to win this. It would be a prestige issue for us as the three teams in our group are in form, having been playing in the Senior Division.

"They are also under good coaches like Abu Yusuf (Victoria) and Mohammad Faruk (Youngmen's) and I feel the group would be competitive."

Abahani manager Satyajit Das Rupu, also irked by the absence of players, said he wanted to have the boys in camp at least for the last week.

"But some of them went to play outside. Anyway, we have been training for one month and every time Abahani start a tournament, they eye nothing but the trophy," said the former midfield international.

The big news for the sky-blues is that defender Sujan will return to action after a yearlong injury.

"Sujan looks okay. But his fitness level will be proved in match condition," said Rupu whose guests are Farashganj striker Robin and Rahamatganj centre-back Sunny.

When asked whether the club would take this tournament to select a few new players for the coming season, Rupu said it was too early.

"Although the footballers are talking about the transfers coming soon, we are really uncertain. Let the federation give us a schedule, then we will see. But we have decided to continue camp till the AFC President's Cup in Nepal in April," added the sky-blues manager.

With Brothers and Sheikh Russel not playing, Muktijoddha have roped in one player each from the big names to strengthen their squad.

The Reds, who will miss injured veterans Moni and Matiur Munna, have added Brothers forward Manju and Russel back Hassan apart from getting back Jony, who was on loan to Chittagong Mohammedan. Arambagh's Iddi Badambuze will be their only foreign recruit.

"The players are in good shape and we have been training for one month. Its true we could not practise as a unit due to players' commitment in district tournaments. But these matches have kept us fit for the last six months as well as giving financial security," said national captain Hassan Al Mamun, who will be deputy to Muktijoddha captain Arman Mia.

"Our coach (Atiqur Rahman) allowed them to go because most of them had taken advances.

"We are serious because this is the Victory Day tournament. It would be great to win it for the freedom fighters," Hassan commented.

Tough Draw for Bangladesh

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) released Bangladesh's international football schedule for national and club teams for the early part of 2008.

The national team received a very tough draw for the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers, where they will have to face hosts Kyrgyzstan for a place in the finals. Bangladesh are also pitted against rather easier opponents Afghanistan and Laos in the Group C qualifiers, which will be held in Kyrgyzstan from May 5-10.

The four group champions will join automatic qualifiers DPR Korea, Turkmenistan, India and Myanmar in the final round. The venue and date of the finals have yet to be decided. The Group A matches will be played in Chinese Taipei, initially chosen as the venue of the second edition of the tournament but cancelled by the AFC for lack of facilities. Apart from the hosts, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Guam complete the group.

Philippines will host defending champions Tajikistan, Brunei and Bhutan in Group B while Nepal compete at home against Palestine, Cambodia and Macao in Group D.

The inaugural AFC Cup was held in Bangladesh, which has not even won the rights to host club matches. Abahani, the professional football league champions of the country, will have to travel to Kathmandu to play their Group A matches of the AFC President's Cup.

It will be the local giants' return to international football after a long time as they failed to win a berth in the previous AFC Cup tournaments. After the Bangladesh Football Federation's failure to send any team to last year's AFC Cup as there had been no competition in 2006, Bangladesh's rating declined as they were demoted to the lowest ranked tournament of the AFC.

The other teams to play in the Himalayan Kingdom from April 20-24 are former President's Cup champions Regar-Tadaz of Tajikistan and national league winners of hosts Nepal and Pakistan. The Group B comprises of holders Dordoi Dynamo of Kyrgyzstan, Nagacorp FC of Cambodia and Taiwan Power of Chinese Taipei who play in Taipei. Colombo will host Group C involving local side Ratnam SC, Asgabat of Turkmenistan, Bhutan Transport United and Kanbawza from Myanmar.

AFC Names Abahani for President's Cup

B. League champions Abahani's participation in the AFC Cup looked uncertain as the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) yesterday confirmed that the Dhaka giants will play in the AFC President's Cup.

The AFC organises three continental club tournaments every year with the top nations representing the prestigious Champions League, the mid-level sides competing in the AFC Cup and the bottom-category countries getting the President's Cup.

The Bangladesh clubs earlier participated in the AFC Cup but last year, there had been no entry as the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) failed to organise any league in 2006.

As 2007 professional league winners, Abahani were supposed to win an AFC Cup berth but the sky-blues have been pitted against clubs from the least developed football nations.

The BFF yesterday confirmed that Abahani's entry has been accepted as B. League champions of 2006-2007 although the AFC had invited only the national league champions from 11 countries for 2008.

A BFF official confirmed yesterday that as there was no National League in Bangladesh in the 2006-07 season, the AFC decided to award Abahani a place in the competition, so far dominated by central Asian nations.

The qualification stage will be held from March 20 to April this year but it was not known whether matches would be played on home-away basis or at centralised venues.

The final stage - two semifinals and final - will be played from 19-21 September.

The other ten nations to be represented at the event are Bhutan, Cambodia, Chinese Taipei, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

MSC Win Charity Series

Guest goalkeeper Aminul Haque saved two penalties as Mohammedan Sporting Club produced another tiebreaker win against Abahani yesterday to lift the Teletalk Best of Three charity series 2-1.

In a repeat of the opening match, Mohammedan outplayed their arch rivals 4-2 in the penalty shootout after a scoreless 90 minutes in the third and final match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

Mohammedan won 5-4 on penalties in the first match before Abahani restored parity in the series with a 2-1 victory.

After an aggregate 14,000 turnout on the first two days, around 15,000 fans enjoyed the series finale, which meant the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) is likely to raise a fund near Tk 10 lakh - inclusive of Teletalk's Tk three lakh sponsorship - for victims of Cyclone Sidr.

The BFF's initial target was to see houseful crowd on each of the three days but it failed to even sell a total of 33,000 tickets - the official capacity of the venue.

The result in the end, would give the black and whites some solace to end the season after finishing runners-up to winners Abahani in this year's lone competition, the B. League.

It were the sky-blues who began brightly with Emily and Robin showing great skill up front. Still, Abahani missed the experience of guest striker Moni, who was absent due to a hamstring injury that saw him limp off the ground early in the previous game.

The Abahani duo, however, failed to put Aminul to the real test due to lack of finishing. Emily though, found the net in the 16th minute, but the goal was disallowed for a foul picked up by the referee's assistant.

Abahani won numerous corners without any avail against a tight five-man backline while Waly Faisal failed to keep his freekick from 25 yards under the bar as their opposition gained momentum after the half hour.

Farhad, however, blasted their only first-half chance over the bar inside from the penalty area.

Mohammedan regained defensive solidity after Hassan Al Mamun's return from a one-match suspension but for Abahani, Arif Khan Joy's comeback was not much comfortable as he became a target of the Mohammedan midfielders. The Abahani captain, who was also banned for the second match, was fouled whenever he touched the ball.

Neither side had a grip over the game in the second half but the match came alive in the last quarter with Farhad creating two superb chances. The diminutive forward first picked up Ripon 15 yards out of goal but the fullback's first-time volley sailed over before Charles Figo headed another Farhad centre wide from three yards.

Abahani had their chances in the last seven minutes but Pranotosh, who met a chip by Abul inside the six-yard box, nodded the ball wide.

Player of the series Aminul then made a couple of saves in the last five minutes, denying Abul and Emily from close range to take the match to the shootout.

The national goalkeeper, who missed an entire season through injury, first stopped Abahani's regular penalty-taker Nazrul's shot from the spot. Aminul was beaten by Emily's drive to the top left corner but put the match all but beyond Abahani by tipping Abul's shot out of his left post.

Mintu also scored for Abahani but it was not enough as all four Mohammedan penalty takers -- Ariful, Hassan Al Mamun, Farhad and Ripon -- kept their cool to beat Biplab and snatch victory.

Organising committee co-chairmen Kazi Nabil Ahmed, also an Abahani director, and Lokman Hossain, Mohammedan's general secretary, handed over the champions and runners-up trophy respectively.

BFF president SA Sultan, acting general secretary Manzoor Hossain Malu and Teletalk general manager marketing Habibur Rahman were also present.

TEAMS

Mohammedan: Aminul, Ariful, Hassan Al Mamun, Biplab, Kamal, Ripon, Sharif (Manjamin), Arman Aziz, Mithu (Mishu), Farhad and Figo (Rony).

Abahani: Biplab, Waly, Nazrul, Dominic, Mintu, Abul, Pranotosh, Joy, Munna, Emily and Robin (Zahed).

Final Charity Encounter Today

Warm-up over, Abahani and Mohammedan gear up for the third and final match of the Teletalk Series hoping that the decider will put an end to the scarcity of crowd.

With the charity series - organised by the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) to raise fund for the victims of Cyclone Sidr that ripped through the southern part of the country last month - locked 1-1, today's match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium will separate the winners.

The match will kick off at 4.30pm.

The two perennial foes' failure to attract fans in the last two matches was not totally unexpected as people have already turned their faces from the game. Even during competitive matches between the city rivals, the stadium remained half-full.

A total of 14,000 tickets worth just over Tk four lakh have been sold so far but the organisers are still hoping for a boost by the holiday crowd.

Mohammedan won the first encounter 5-4 on penalties after a goalless draw in regulation 90 minutes but Abahani bounced back with a 2-1 victory in the second match to level the scores.

Abahani captain Arif Khan Joy and Mohammedan's guest defender Hassan Al Mamun, who were sent off during the incident-packed first game, will return after serving one-match bans.

On the other hand, black and whites coach Shafiqul Islam Manik who inspired his boys to walk off the ground in protest of a disallowed goal also in the inaugural match, will also be available at the Mohammedan bench after serving a touchline ban.

It would be a challenge for Manik who looks forward to record a win in normal time after failing to beat B. League champions Abahani so far this season.

B. League runners-up Mohammedan had lost one and drew the other game in the professional league before managing to beat the sky-blues in the tiebreaker on last Monday.

Everyone, however, hopes that return of the key figures would be for the better and the most popular clubs of the country will show patience instead of repeating typical on and off the field antics and disappoint their devotees.

Abahani Level Charity Series

Guest footballer Matiur Munna set up a first-half goal for Abul Hossain and scored the other after the break to help Abahani come back in the Teletalk Best of Three Series with a 2-1 win over arch rivals Mohammedan yesterday.

Abahani's win levelled the three-match charity series 1-1 after Mohammedan, who wasted one penalty and converted the other through Jumratul Islam Mithu on the night, had won Monday's opening match 5-4 in the tiebreaker after a goalless draw in regulation 90 minutes.

The target of the football series - to raise a considerable fund for the cyclone victims - however, hardly fulfilled as the number of spectators reduced even after the dramatic first match, where two booters were sent off, the referee was show-caused and Mohammedan coach Shafiqul Islam Manik was handed a touchline ban.

Before a meagre 6,000 fans, Mohammedan looked more positive for the first half hour. The black and whites, however, wasted great chances to take the lead and seal the series even before Abahani had settled on the pitch.

Farhad sent a fine chip from the left just after two minutes but Abahani's Ugandan defender Dominic headed out the ball with Nigerian striker Charles Figo closing in on a free header.

Farhad again caught the rival backline flat-footed from a corner but Mishu failed to connect the ball from six yards.

Moni, the sky-blues' visiting striker from Muktijoddha, limped off the ground due to a hamstring injury in the ninth minute and Abahani's miseries extended a couple of minutes later when Abul conceded a penalty, while tripping overlapping rival fullback Kamal inside the box.

Biplab proved it was not going to be Mohammedan's day when the Abahani keeper dived to his left to tip the spot kick by Arman Aziz onto his sidebar for a fellow defender to kick it out of danger.

With Pradeep, stand-in captain in absence of Joy who was red carded on Monday beside Mohammedan's Hassan Al Mamun, operating as rightback, the Abahani defence gradually regained solidity as Nazrul and Dominic finally showed some understanding.

It resulted in a few counter attacks but the lead came from a set piece in the 33rd minute. Munna lofted a freekick from the left and Abul's glancing header gave Aminul no chance at the Mohammedan goal as the ball slammed into the far corner.

Abahani doubled the lead just two minutes into the second session although Mohammedan players strongly appealed for an offside against Munna.

The midfielder took a corner from the right and the ball went to Robin and the Farashganj striker chipped a crossfield pass back to Munna, who flicked the ball past Aminul and toed it into an empty goal.

Figo, who twice threatened to score but failed to beat Biplab, however, had a hand when Mohammedan won the second penalty of the game as Rony - getting inside the box with Figo's pass - was felled by Dominic inside the box in the 73rd minute.

Mithu made no mistake to put the ball past an advancing Biplab to reduce the arrears.

The last chance of the game fell to Emily but the Abahani forward, having dribbled past two defenders, could not keep his drive under the bar five minutes from time.

Four players from each side were cautioned but tempers never got beyond control as the two arch rivals headed home to prepare for the deciding third and final match to be played tomorrow at the same venue.

Abdul Hannan refereed the match.

TEAMS

Abahani: Biplab, Pradeep (Waly), Nazrul, Dominic, Mintu, Abul, Pranotosh, Robin, Munna, Emily and Moni (Tipu and Zahed)

Mohammedan: Aminul, Ariful, Mishu (Manjamin), Biplab, Kamal, Ripon, Sharif, Arman Aziz, Mithu, Farhad (Rony) and Figo

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.