Abahani kick off practice sessions from next week
MD ANWAR ULLAH, Dhaka
Abahani Limited will kick off their training from the first week of November ahead of the coming season with local coaches conducting the sessions until head coach Mario Lemos joins them likely in the third week of November.
Talking to The Independent on Thursday, Satyajit Das Rupu, manager of the countrys one of the most successful professional clubs, detailed their plans ahead of the season scheduled to start with the Federation Cup in December.
He said although big changes are unlikely in the team they may go for two to three new recruits including an overseas booter.
The long-serving Abahani manager also said he does not want any player to face difficulty in having clubs during the corona virus-triggered crisis period.
As far as the pandemic situation is concerned, we wont release any player. However, if anyone wants they can leave the team and we wont have any objection. In fact, we just care about the players, he said.
Considering the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) and the Premier League Committee earlier decided that the players will remain in their respective clubs, and that players can change clubs only through mutual understanding with the club authorities.
If situation demands, we may include players, but obviously we will consider better performers who we will be able to serve our purposes, said Rupu, also an executive committee member of BFF.
About foreign players, the Abahani manager said, We have already started working on the issue first of all we are focusing on our Asian quota, for which one of four foreign registrations are allowed for this season.
About the remaining three foreign players, he said they have regular communications with last seasons recruits -- Sunday of Nigeria, Belforrt Kerven of Haiti and Mailson Alves of Brazil.
We are in contacts with forwards Sunday and Belfort and defender Mailson. But if there is any better options, we may consider them, said the former national star.
Forward duo Sunday and Belfort have better chance to join us while Mario Lemos will remain as head coach and expected to arrive in the third week of November, said Rupu.
He also informed that all of their players were well and none of them suffered from coronavirus so far.
Abahani Limited was leading the point table after the sixth round of the 2019-20 league when it was postponed due to worldwide outbreak of COVID-19.
The club boasts of winning the title for the first four times in a stretch and total six times out of the last 11 tournaments.
HM
