Bashundhara Federation Cup Football will kick off from today with two matches taking place at two different venues outside Dhaka.
In a bid to regain the Federation Cup title after missing for previous two seasons, the four times champions of the Bangladesh Premier League football Bashundhara Kings will begin their campaign with taking on the lowly Fortis FC at the Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium, Gopalganj.
In the day’s other match Rahmatganj MFS will face off Bangladesh Police FC at the Fl. Lt. Bir Shreshtha Motiur Rahman Stadium, Musnhiganj when both the match will kick off 2:30 pm. However, Bashundhara Kings, despite winning the BPL 2022-23 season playing with full authority, failed to win the Federation Cup.
In fact, now the biggest powerhouse of the country’s domestic circuit and the top favourites to win title, Bahsundhara Kings won the Federation Cup in 2019-20 and 2020-21 season in a row but failed to keep up the momentum for previous two seasons.
So this time it turned into a prestige issue for one of the strong football teams in the South Asian region.
But it can predict that it will not too tough for the Kings to cross the hurdle of Fortis FC on their way to restore the party. Kings coach Oscar Bruzon, Sohel Rana and Rakib Hossain looked very festive mood on Monday when they celebrated the Christmas Day with some of team-mates and officials.
“It is excellent to perform the Christmas Day with my family and friends. Players are in festive mood and looking forward to the start the Fed Cup with happy note.”
“We have been working from July, besides competing in the AFC Cup we then completed well the Independence Cup, now it is Federation Cup. Last year we looking forward to win the Federation.”
Sohel Rana, one of the best performers in the AFC Cup and the Independence Cup Sohel Rana also expressed his confidence to make a winning start to win the Fed Cup when the veteran midfielder said that they are also eyeing to win the treble.
“Last season (2021-2022) we could not win the Federation Cup, this time our main target to win the treble, so to reach our target anyhow we will have to be champions in the Federation Cup and looking forward to make a winning start. All of us have the confidence,” said Sohel Rana.
Rakib Hossain one of the best performers of the team also put across his confidence to win Federation Cup and just echoed with his predecessor Rana that they don’t want to miss the Fed Cup this time again.
“We lost the Federation Cup last season, but this time we are aiming to regain the title, hope we would be able to make it success. Tomorrow (today) will play our first match, we want to go match by match and make a winning start.”
