Mohammedan Sporting, one of the football powerhouses in the country tasted their first title of the Professional Football League, in 18 years of it’s introducing here in Bangladesh.
Mohammedan celebrated the championship when their closest rivals Abahani Limited suffered a 2-1 by Fortis FC at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla on Saturday and effectively handing the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) title to the Black and White with three games in hand.
Alfaz Ahmed, former captain of the Mohammedan and now the coach of the club made it happen after many others including foreign coaches had failed to earn the feat over the last 23 years.
Mohammedan had won their last league title 23 years ago and could manage runners up trophy of the first three editions of BPL and then it has been a long wait. The first title of the Professional Football League also ended the 18 years’ championship winning drought of the most successful club of the country in their 89-years journey.
In the professional football era, Mohammedan had gone through a lot of ups and downs, when once they were also fell into relegation threat.
However, after a long time, the most coveted league trophy went to the 89 years old club at their Motijheel tent on Saturday when Alfaz Ahmed was the main architect to make it success.
But one of all times best soccer stars of the country, Alfaz Ahmed when expressed his feelings after confirming their title win, did not want to take all the credits, as he said – “It’s a result of combined team efforts. All coaching staffs, club managements and specially, the players, who did great job throughout the league.”
Alfaz, when talking to the Bangladesh Post on Sunday, said, it’s hard to express the feelings in words, no words enough to explain. It’s great to think of myself as a part of this title triumph, as my playing career was flourished at this club, so really my joy knows no bounds.”
“You know, the club has gone through a tough time and had lots of ups and downs in recent years. After the difficult period, we, all are very happy becoming champions. The club officials will decide when they will celebrate this achievement, though we (players) and the supporters have already celebrated with loud cheers after the title was secured,” Alfaz replied to a query.
Alfaz, who has been leading the team (as head coach) for last three seasons, tipped off team’s recovering the tough times when under his guidance Mohammedan won the Federation Cup title in 2022-23 season and also reached the final last year, lost the final to Bashundhara Kings and persisted the same fate in both league and Independence Cup.
Replying to a query about the significant behind this success, the former national striker said, “I told you first, it’s a result of combined efforts of all, but actually I have every belief we could become league champions this time, as we have capability, if you consider our progresses of last three seasons. This time we were very much positive about the success and concentrate from the beginning of the season. Mohammedan became as one of the strong title contenders over the last few years, winning a Federation Cup title and then making it to the final in a few other competitions recently.”
“We finished as runners-up in three tournaments last year, Federation Cup, league and Independence Cup. Then I became more confident if we can finish second, obviously will be able to become champions. Our main target was to win the league title this time. We followed that objective and the players played with full effort.”
Alfaz, who named the club’s manager Imtiaz Ahmed Nakib (Once his club’s teammate also in the nationa side) along with the club’s the football committee members, football committee chairman (Mohiuddin) Alamgir and club president General Mubeen, said that all of them have a lot of contribution towards the success.
“Overall it was great challenge for us and we have overcome all the odds to win the title,” said Alfaz Ahmed.
