Bangabandhu Gold Cup Football
Mohammedan to leave Dhaka today
Sports Reporter
Reigning champions Mohammedan Sporting Club will leave Dhaka today to participate directly in the knockout phase in the ongoing Bangabandhu Gold Cup Football tournament in Magura.
Mohammedan, the traditional power house in the countrys football, who have been struggling in the domestic top circuit for last few years, dipping into the lowest ebb in their history of more than 50 years in local league.
However, the Black and Whites won the title of the first edition of the invitational tournament in Magura the Bangabandhu Gold Cup tournament defeating their arch rivals Abahani Limited.
But this time Mohammedan are going to just maintain the formalities when they had the invitation as the defending title holders.
Meanwhile, Abahani Limited and Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra are also taking part in the tournament while both the sides have already moved into the semifinals.
Mohammedan will take on a local team tomorrow but their prospect is unlikely to move ahead to retain the title, as the newly appointed coach Abdul Kaiyum Sentu said.
Sentu, who just took the charge of Mohammedan this month talked to this correspondent yesterday before leaving for practice session at the Bangabandhu National Stadium Dhaka.
Sentu said that though they are the holders but could not prepare the team strongly to hold the honour as champions.
This time actually we are not prepared enough to keep up the championship, we are going with very poor preparation, its just to comply with the invitation of the organizers, as the champions side.
In fact the guest players we expected to get for the Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup tournament, all of them are playing in the Magura tournament for different clubs, so we have also shortage of players, who are good enough for the championship fight.
We are going in Magura with 16 to 17 players with us including three foreign players but it would be tough to cross the quarterfinal hurdle for us and it is reality now.
But the former national booter said that they will have a good side for the upcoming Sheikh Kamal Club Cup tournament to be held in Chittagong from February 18.
