Abahani dont want to concede any goal at home against Maziya
Teams lock horns in AFC first round match Feb 5
SPORTS REPORTER, Dhaka
Abahani Limited in a bid to keep up their pride in the AFC Cup competition will begin their campaign with playing the home match on February 5.
Abahani will take on Maldives champions Maziya Sports and Recreation Club in their home in the first play off match when the return match will be held on February 12 in Male.
Abahani did not give any break in their preparation thereafter the Federation Cup but only few days during the World Cup qualifying matches and the Bangabandhu Gold Cup Football tournament.
However, Abahani coach Mario Lemos, under whom Abahani played could go up to Inter-Zone semifinal of the AFC Cup last year is expecting to go far this time also but the Portuguese coach is very much concerned about his defense.
The reason of his anxiousness with defense is the bitter experiences of the last year when they could not qualify in the final due to conceding more goals than the April 25 of North Korea, the ultimate champions of the competition.
Abahani conceded three goals in their 4-3 win at home ground and conceded another two late goals in away, as the April 25 SC (4.25 SC) moved into the final by virtue of goal difference.
However, when the first match is knocking at the door with five days left to kick off, Lemos expressed his teams condition when talking to the Independent yesterday before going for practice session at Abahani Club ground.
The Portuguese coach, though a bit pensive with his defense line said that this time his team are stronger than previous year when they had to play in absence of some regular performers.
Yes, defense is a big issue I am very much concerned, as you know we could not qualify in the final only for conceding more goals than the opponents.
But I think this time we have stronger side, as we will have all our regular eleven players but only Tutul Hossain Badsha, one of the defenders is sick and will not able to play, otherwise we had full squad.
This time we have also some players experienced playing in the AFC Cup, like Sunday, Belfort, Jibon, Mamunul, Raihan, Nasiruddin and some others, so hope we will be able to handle the Maziya challenge well, said Lemos.
About the Maziya of Maldives champions, Lemos said that he has some idea about them Maziya is very good team comprised with four foreign booters, who are very speedy, can run quick, have a striker who are very fast. The team have also all the national booters of Maldives.
The match will be tough one but I expect we will do good result in home ground and have every chance to go forward if we can restrict the opponents from scoring goals. Lemos, who is also happy having some national booters and keeps his faith to have good services from them, We have also some booters performed well for national side, I believe they will perform well.
About some disparity between their performance in the league matches and international matches Lemos, the former footballer in Portugal said, In domestic league we play pressing and attacking game but in the international affairs we have to be cautious.
Nasiruddin Chowdhury, the central defender who have experience of playing in the AFC Cup for Sheikh Jamal and Abahani earlier, returned to Abahani after a season playing for Bashundhra Kings also talked to the Independent when he said, After coming back to Abahani my responsibility has increased. Last year we conceded more goals than opponents and failed to move forward, this time we are very much committed not to concede goals.
Maziya is a balanced team, they have a good striker who is very fast, we will have to stop him. We have plan not concede goals and will try best to execute the tactics, said Nasiruddin, once who was the main defender of Bangladesh national team.
