North Korean team due today to face Abahani

AFC Cup Zonal semifinal

North Korean team April 25 Sports Club, the opponents of the Abahani Limited are scheduled to land here in Dhaka today at noon to play their AFC Cup Inter Zone play-off semifinal match.  

The match will take place at the Bangabandhu National Stadium at 7pm on August 21 while Abahani will play their away match in Pyongyang, capital of North Korea on August 28. The winners of the home and away matches will move into the zonal final.

Abahani Limited, the champions of the previous season of the Bangladesh Premier League and the runners-up of this season, continued their practice without any break but only three days for Eid vacation after completing the league when the players did not have any long leave.

However, Abahani will have to play without their one of the most vital performer Masih Saighani, as the Afghan defender has already joined the Indian team Chennaiyan FC, who finally said ‘No’ to Abahani to set free Masih at least on loan.

It is a huge tremble for Abahani not to have Masih, who played important role to lift Bangladesh club team in the AFC Cup Inter Zone play-off semifinal for the first time any of Bangladeshi team when the Afghan defender scored three goals in the preliminary round.

Masih had two winning strikes, one each against Manang Marshyangdhi Club of Nepal in Katmandu and another one was against Minarva Punjab in India when Abahani won by 1-0 against Manang Marshyangdhi and after 2-2 against Minarva, Masih just salvaged Abahani with 90th minutes strike and confirmed his team’s place in the knockout phase.

However, Abahani did not waste time to replace Masih when they recruited Egyptian defender Alaa Eldin Nasr and a South Korean defensive midfielder Lee Tai.

Now Abahani coach Mario Lemos is working with four foreign booters, Sunday Chizoba of Nigeria, Belfort of Haiti, Alaa Eldin Nasr of Egypt and Lee Tai of South Korea.

Abahani manager Sattaiyajit Das Rupu said, “North Korean team is very strong side, they will play with their own strength and we will play with our potency but obviously we will play with the target to win home match.”

“Home ground always an advantage for any team, we certainly will try to enjoy the home ground advantage,” said Rupu.

 

North Korean team due today to face Abahani

AFC Cup Zonal semifinal

North Korean team April 25 Sports Club, the opponents of the Abahani Limited are scheduled to land here in Dhaka today at noon to play their AFC Cup Inter Zone play-off semifinal match. The match will take place at the Bangabandhu National Stadium at 7pm on August 21 while Abahani will play their away match in Pyongyang, capital of North Korea on August 28. The winners of the home and away matches will move into the zonal final. Abahani Limited, the champions of the previous season of the Bangladesh Premier League and the runners-up of this season, continued their practice without any break but only three days for Eid vacation after completing the league when the players did not have any long leave. However, Abahani will have to play without their one of the most vital performer Masih Saighani, as the Afghan defender has already joined the Indian team Chennaiyan FC, who finally said No to Abahani to set free Masih at least on loan. It is a huge tremble for Abahani not to have Masih, who played important role to lift Bangladesh club team in the AFC Cup Inter Zone play-off semifinal for the first time any of Bangladeshi team when the Afghan defender scored three goals in the preliminary round. Masih had two winning strikes, one each against Manang Marshyangdhi Club of Nepal in Katmandu and another one was against Minarva Punjab in India when Abahani won by 1-0 against Manang Marshyangdhi and after 2-2 against Minarva, Masih just salvaged Abahani with 90th minutes strike and confirmed his teams place in the knockout phase. However, Abahani did not waste time to replace Masih when they recruited Egyptian defender Alaa Eldin Nasr and a South Korean defensive midfielder Lee Tai. Now Abahani coach Mario Lemos is working with four foreign booters, Sunday Chizoba of Nigeria, Belfort of Haiti, Alaa Eldin Nasr of Egypt and Lee Tai of South Korea. Abahani manager Sattaiyajit Das Rupu said, North Korean team is very strong side, they will play with their own strength and we will play with our potency but obviously we will play with the target to win home match. Home ground always an advantage for any team, we certainly will try to enjoy the home ground advantage, said Rupu.