After more than a decade, the country’s traditional giants Mohammed Sporting Club and Abahani Limited to lock-horn today in a final of the Bashundhara Federation Cup Football when the match is to take place at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutt Stadium Cumilla.
It will be another final match between Mohammedan and Abahani after 14 years since 2009.
The excitement of the giants clash is always a most prestigious in the domestic soccer.
As, both the managers of both teams, who once played for Mohammedan and Abahani, feel a bit excitement and pressure with the match.
Abahani manager Statyajit Das Rupu and Imtiaz Ahmed Nakib, former national team booters turned into managers of their respective club with former took the charge of Abahani and the later of Mohammedan.
It would be the most significant match for Mohammedan, as it is a golden opportunity for them to break the title draught, as for last few years they are far from to win any trophy.
Before the today’s final, they have already had a dress rehearsal when they played a league match last wick and shared the honor evenly with one all draw.
Mohammedan Sporting Club, who are eagerly eying to win the title after along time and as well to beat Abahani are in impressive mood after demonstrating some mind-blow performances in the last few matches.
Specially, 2-1 victory against Bashundhara Kings in the semifinal is huge boost up for Mohammedan when Abahani had easier opponents Sheikh Russel to beat by 3-0.
The fact it is the final game of the season will be music to the ears of supporters of both teams all around but it has been a truly over the past few years Mohammedan had frustrated times.
Abahani Limited will have undoubtedly been watching the major chances of the matches to get some sort of better advantages with their foreign performers and some of the national team’s booters. Below are two possible ways Mohammedan could lineup on the day. Mohammedan, on the other hands, would have a benefit because the likelihood is that most of their players being young.
In fact both sides are very much dependable on their foreign performers when Daniel Colindres for Abahani and Soleymane Diabate for Mohammedan.
Colindres, the Costa Rican World Cupper is the highest scorer for Abahani with 12 goals when Soleyman Diabate caught the eye with his directness and scoring ability for Mohammedan scored 12 goals.
However, both the strikers will need to shine, no doubt, with showing their class on the day and the fact they started every game since signing proved their worth to their respective sides and will undoubtedly play a massive part of the game.
Sttayajit Das Rupu the former Abahani booter, when expressed his opinion to the Bangladesh Post on Monday about the today’s match said, “In fact after 14 years two giants are facing each other, so there would be some pressure and feelings would a different. The match always a prestigious encounter for both sides, so both sides try to keep up their pride.”
“After 14 years Mohammedan moved into the final, so they will try will win, we are also prepared but players would have perform at their optimal level,” said Rupu.
“What I always believe that, who will utilize the opportunities will come their ways will win the
game,” Rupu said.
Nakib, manager of Mohammedan said, “After nine years we are playing a final and after 14 years with Abahani, obviously our target to win the match to have a title after a long interval.”
“In the last meeting in the league, though the match was ended on 1-1, but we played better and had better control.”
“You know, for last 10 to 15 years, Mohammedan have been struggling much, after taking the charge by the former players, we are improving day by day, and hope days will be changed.”
“When I played for Mohammedan, I never finished on third but we were always champions or runners up,” said Nakib, once the highest scorer in the league.