Mohamemdan Sporting Club contacted Pakistani hockey legend Shahbaz Ahmed as their advisor and Muhammed Asim as a member of their coaching panel.
Mohammedan Sporting Club, who are the third-biggest team considering the players’ registration for the upcoming season, have already started their search to include foreign coaches and players.
Meanwhile, Mohammedan has also sent an application to the Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) to request that the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Karachi and the High Commission in Islamabad issue visas to Shabaz Ahmed and Muhammad Asim.
Mohammedan, who could not rope so many big fish in local hockey, are trying heart and soul to surpass the other rivals, like Abahani Limited and Mariners, by signing up foreign players and coaches.
Abahani and Mariners are considered as the stronger sides than Mohammedan, as they drafted the local stars.
But Mohammedan, failing to sign up the domestic heroes, are focusing on dealing with the foreign players and coaches.
Mohammedan, though, applied to the BHF to request the Bangladesh High Commission in Pakistan for the issuing of visas, but it has not been confirmed whether Shahbaz and Asim would be issued visas. So, the title contenders are also maintaining their communication with the Australian and European coaches.
Ariful Haque Prince, hockey manager of the Mohammedan Sporting Club, said when talking to the Bangladesh Post on Thursday, "Actually, we are searching for foreign coaches and players simultaneously and hopefully will be able to bring them.”
“We are expecting to confirm the head coach, and right now we are in contact with our former coaches, the Germans’ Peter Gerhard and Australian Glenn Turner. Hopefully, by this week, everything will be sorted out and we will get any of them,” Prince said.
“In fact, this time it is very tough to get proficient foreign players or coaches, as all Europeans are busy with their local duty, so we are trying to contact Malaysian and Japanese players,” Prince, the former national hockey star, added.
Meanwhile, the domestic season will kick off with the Shahid Smriti Tournament, followed by the Club Cup Hockey, when the most coveted hockey league will start after completing the Club Cup.