Corona is playing domestic football for the first time with the Federation Cup. Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society is facing Bashundhara Kings, the current champion of C group, on the opening day of the tournament today. The match will start at 5:30 pm at Bangabandhu Stadium. The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) held a press conference yesterday ahead of the tournament. The clubs expressed their expectations at a press conference held at the BFF building. Bashundhara coach Oscar Brujan, who is leading the way, wants to retain the title. Dhaka Abahani is desperate to get back the lost title. Mohammedan, who have been battling for the title for a long time, are hoping to win the Federation Cup.
The brothers who started training a day ago also want to do well.
Bashundhara Kings seems to have made a treaty with the title since it was named in the highest level football in the 2018-19 season! The club has played one league and three tournaments in two seasons. Runners-up in the first Federation Cup. He then went on to become the league champion, winning the Independence Cup and last season's Federation Cup. Oscar Brujan, the team's head coach, has said that he is going to hold the reins this season as well. "I started training last September with the AFC Cup in mind," he said, referring to his team's expectations of the tournament yesterday. Although the AFC Cup was canceled, we did not stop training. Hopefully, we will start reaping the benefits with the Federation Cup. ”Bashundhara's fight is only with itself in building new teams. This time the local footballers did not have the opportunity to change teams. Bashundhara's eyes were on Brazil-Argentina. Of the four foreigners, two are Brazilians and one is Argentine. The Asian quota has been met by bringing in players from Iran. The team's new captain Tapu Barman wants to keep an eye on the title as well as match the foreigners in the Federation Cup.
Abahani is the champion in the first 3 of the last 4 Federation Cups since 2016. The latest tournament is for Bashundhara Kings. Abahani is the best 6 times in the first 10 editions of the professional league started in 2007. In the new season, Dhaka Abahani's goal is to regain the Federation Cup title lost to Bashundhara Kings in the abandoned season. "Although we are in a tough group in the Federation Cup," said head coach Mario Lames. But the boys are ready to take the challenge. However, it is difficult for Abahani to reach the target by avoiding the stronghold of Bashundhara. They have 13-14 players in the national team and 6-7 in Abahani. ' It is a relief for Abahani. Abahani did not leave any local player, did not take any new one. The old Abahani will be seen in the new season. However, Afghan defender Masih Saigani has been brought back. The new additions are two Brazilians Francisco Torres and Rafael Augusto. Abahani is betting on both of them. The Portuguese coach of the team said that it will not be difficult to regain the Federation Cup and League title if they play well.
Mohammedan, the arch-rival, is in the group of strong Dhaka Abahani in the 13-team tournament. In recent times, the traditional club has come under the headlines of negative news. The condition of the team is less likely to come up with a good title soon. The last team formed with a bunch of unknown youngsters is playing again this time. However, the black and white could not take the star footballer even if they wanted to this season as there was no open team change. Even then, the team's Australian coach Shaun Lane hopes the youngsters will give him something good. "Most of the players on my team are young," he told a pre-tournament press conference yesterday. I made them in three-four weeks of training for the Federation Cup. '
Outside the big three clubs, Saif Sporting Club and Sheikh Jamal are also keeping an eye on the title. Arambagh and Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society's goal is to pass the group stage hurdle. However, the Lankan coach of Bangladesh Police Nizam Pakir Ali has stated a completely different goal. He said his team has a lot of young talented footballers. From there he wants to make a few for the national team through this tournament. The freedom fighters have prepared themselves for the Federation Cup in the midst of financial crisis. And Brothers Union is hoping to start training the day before the start of the tournament and become the fifth. The aims and objectives of Chittagong Abahani and Sheikh Russell were not known at the press conference.
Who is in which group in Federation Cup
Group A - Sheikh Russell, Sheikh Jamal and Bangladesh Police
Group ‘B’ - Saif Sporting, Arambagh, Brothers Union and North Baridhara.
Group ‘C’-Bashundhara Kings, Chittagong Abahani and Rahmatganj
Group ‘D’-Abahani, Mohammedan and Muktijoddha
