The Independence Cup football tournament will begin from January 16 with 12 teams of the Saif Power Battery Bangladesh Premier League will take part in the season’s last competition splitting into four groups.  

Champions Abahani Limited, who have already grabbed the league title for sixth times, were drawn along with Sheikh Russel and Team BJMC in the Group C when the draw and a MoU signing ceremony were held yesterday between Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) and Walton Group, who are the title sponsors of the tournament.

The reigning champions Chittagong Abahani Limited were drawn in the Group D along with Arambagh Krira Sangha and Saif Sporting Club while the Group A comprised with Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, Mohammedan Sporting Club and Rahmatganj MFS, when Brothers Union, Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra and Farashganj Sporting Club are in the Group B.    

Tournament will saw two intervals due to Saif Sporting Club’s assignment in the AFC to take on TC Sports Club of Maldives at home on January 23 and will play the away match in Male on January 30.   

This time the participants will receive Taka 2,00,000 each while the champions will be awarded with taka 5,00,000 and the runners-up with Taka 3,00,000 and the highest scorer, best player of every match and the best player of the tournament will also be awarded.

There will be no foreign players will be allowed in the Independence Cup this year when in the last edition of the tournament foreign booters played, Salam Mursehdi, the chairman of the Professional Football League said that this time they made a change in the bylaws not to allow foreign players.

The budget of the tournament was estimated for Taka 60,00000 when the title sponsors will provide the maximum amount while Premier Bank, Progoti Insurance, Eastern Bank, Treasure Securities Limited and Aamra Network are the co-sponsors.

Salam Murshedi, also the senior vice-president of the BFF, said that to give opportunities to the domestic players – “We want to open this tournament for our local players only, as the tournament is being organised to mark the Independence Day.”