Dhaka MSC, East Bengal optimistic to play final

The high voltage second semifinal of Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup football tournament between Dhaka giants Mohammedan Sporting Club and the Kolkata giants East Bengal will take place today at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong at 7:40pm.
It is very rare occasion comes for the soccer fans of this subcontinent to watch the encounter of the two giants as well as the two traditional football power houses of the neighbouring countries.
Certainly, the spectators of Chittagong, who will be gathered at the MA Aziz Stadium to enjoy the match would be lucky enough, might be the East Bengal are not here with their full strength team. But the squad have already attracted the crowds with demonstrating very positive performances.
Dhaka MSC also had not enough time to prepare the team for the tournament but entered  into the semifinal displaying some quality football in their last leg phase matches.
Dhaka MSC, apart from a bitter experience in their opener of a solitary goal defeat at the hands of De Spin Ghar Bazan Club of Afghanistan, bounced back when they  demolished the Sri Lanka team Solid SC by 6-1 and eliminated their Kolkata counterparts (Mohammedan) by 2-1.
On their other hands the East Bengal of Kolkata stormed into the semifinal as unbeaten champions of Group. They started the campaign with 2-1 victory over the favourites and the hosts Chittagong Abahani Limited, trounced Karachi Electric FC by 3-1 and halted Dhaka Abahani Limited to a goalless draw.
However, both the parties are ready to through challenge each other to book the final berth by winning the today’s match.
However, both the coaches showed great respect to each other when Dhaka MSC coach, Jashim Uddin Josi, former Mohammedan’s booter, turned into coach of the team said, “East Bengal are a very strong side, the champions of the I League and the Kolkata League, they are a balanced team.”
“We will fight till 90 minutes time and will try to play a competitive game.”
“Formation? Actually, strategy and the formation will be decided with the situation demand, some of our vital performers are ill. Probably you know Jewel Rana, one of our leading booters couldn’t play even a match due to illness, but I am not worried,” said Josi, a former national player.
Captain Arup Baidaya, said, “We fulfilled our first target after reaching the semifinal, now we are looking forward, we don’t care about who are the opponents, we will try to give our best in the field.
We are also representing our country.
Biswajit Bhattachariya, coach of East Bengal said, “We are very nearer to reach our goal, our target is yet to be fulfilled. We are here to play good football.”
“We don’t take the opponents lightly. Here we are underdogs but Dhaka Mohammedan are favourites. We have very young side, as we have a player of 18 years old also.” said Biswajit.
East Bengal captain Deepak Kumar Mandal also expressed his confidence to cross the semifinal hurdle. “So far we played good football and want to repeat the feat in the semifinal.”
“We don’t want take it as a revenge match as Dhaka MSC eliminated another Kolkata team Mohammedan Sporting. We just want take it as another match,” said Deepak. 

Dhaka MSC, East Bengal optimistic to play final

The high voltage second semifinal of Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup football tournament between Dhaka giants Mohammedan Sporting Club and the Kolkata giants East Bengal will take place today at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong at 7:40pm. It is very rare occasion comes for the soccer fans of this subcontinent to watch the encounter of the two giants as well as the two traditional football power houses of the neighbouring countries. Certainly, the spectators of Chittagong, who will be gathered at the MA Aziz Stadium to enjoy the match would be lucky enough, might be the East Bengal are not here with their full strength team. But the squad have already attracted the crowds with demonstrating very positive performances. Dhaka MSC also had not enough time to prepare the team for the tournament but entered into the semifinal displaying some quality football in their last leg phase matches. Dhaka MSC, apart from a bitter experience in their opener of a solitary goal defeat at the hands of De Spin Ghar Bazan Club of Afghanistan, bounced back when they demolished the Sri Lanka team Solid SC by 6-1 and eliminated their Kolkata counterparts (Mohammedan) by 2-1. On their other hands the East Bengal of Kolkata stormed into the semifinal as unbeaten champions of Group. They started the campaign with 2-1 victory over the favourites and the hosts Chittagong Abahani Limited, trounced Karachi Electric FC by 3-1 and halted Dhaka Abahani Limited to a goalless draw. However, both the parties are ready to through challenge each other to book the final berth by winning the todays match. However, both the coaches showed great respect to each other when Dhaka MSC coach, Jashim Uddin Josi, former Mohammedans booter, turned into coach of the team said, East Bengal are a very strong side, the champions of the I League and the Kolkata League, they are a balanced team. We will fight till 90 minutes time and will try to play a competitive game. Formation? Actually, strategy and the formation will be decided with the situation demand, some of our vital performers are ill. Probably you know Jewel Rana, one of our leading booters couldnt play even a match due to illness, but I am not worried, said Josi, a former national player. Captain Arup Baidaya, said, We fulfilled our first target after reaching the semifinal, now we are looking forward, we dont care about who are the opponents, we will try to give our best in the field. We are also representing our country. Biswajit Bhattachariya, coach of East Bengal said, We are very nearer to reach our goal, our target is yet to be fulfilled. We are here to play good football. We dont take the opponents lightly. Here we are underdogs but Dhaka Mohammedan are favourites. We have very young side, as we have a player of 18 years old also. said Biswajit. East Bengal captain Deepak Kumar Mandal also expressed his confidence to cross the semifinal hurdle. So far we played good football and want to repeat the feat in the semifinal. We dont want take it as a revenge match as Dhaka MSC eliminated another Kolkata team Mohammedan Sporting. We just want take it as another match, said Deepak.