Sk Russel, Saif SC eye trophies
Since winning a rare treble in the 2012-13 season Sheikh Russel KC have never bagged any silverware in top-flight football, but this time they are dreaming of repeating that famous feat with a squad that is a blend of youth and experience, including four current national players.
Following the show-off from newcomers Bashundhara Kings on Saturday, Sheikh Russel KC, Saif SC and Mukitijoddha Sangsad KS completed their players' registration formalities yesterday, keeping their eyes on different targets in the upcoming professional league where both Sheikh Russel and Saif SC want to be champions.
Sheikh Russel signed four national players -- goalkeeper Ashraful Islam Rana, defenders Bishwanath Gosh and Yeasin Khan and winger Biplu Ahmed -- along with former national players like Mamun Khan, Ariful Islam, Khalerkurzaman, Uttom Kumar Banik, Mohammad Abdullah, Aminur Rahman Sajib, Shahedul Alam, Yeamin Munna. There are also some promising players like Rashedul Alam Moni, Sabuj Das Raghu, Sohel Rana, Fazle Rabbi, Nahidul Islam and Jamal Hossain while they roped in two Nigerians and one player each from Brazil and Uzbekistan.
“In the last three seasons, we had formed strong teams but could not get any success. This time our target is to win all the trophies and we want to go step by step,” said Sheikh Russel's director-in-charge Ismat Jamil Akand during the registration formality at the BFF House.
The club management has also appointed two foreign assistant coaches along with one local assistant coach and physio after Saiful Bari Titu was appointed as head coach in April.
“We are determined to do well as I have complete faith on the squad which is comprised of young, senior and quality foreign players,” Titu said. “It is not the right time to look for strengths and weaknesses of the team; that can only be found out after the Federation Cup.”
Saif SC, who finished fourth last season and played the AFC Cup play-off round, are pinning hopes on their old guard as they have retained 16 players from the last season while poaching some players from Mohammedan SC, Sheikh Russel KC, Chittagong Abahani and Rahmatganj MFS. They have also ensured the services of national captain Jamal Bhuiyan and defender Rahmat Mia before roping in Jafar Iqbal and Javed Khan.
“The first season is always hard for any team, so last year was a learning time for Saif SC. We learned a lot from our mistakes. There was also disappointment in the AFC Cup but this season we hope we will do better as the expectation is high to win trophies of domestic competitions and obviously the league title,” said Jamal Bhuiyan, who was the lone player to turn up at the BFF House as Saif SC have been training in Mymensingh under British coach Stuart Hall.
As part of pre-season preparation, Saif SC played the Badousa Cup in India and clinched the title before playing two preparation matches against the reserve teams of Atletico de Kolkata and Kolkata Mohammedan SC.
Mukitjoddha Sangsad coach Abdul Kaiyum Sentu said that they have formed a youthful squad that is expected to produce good results compared to their 11th-place finish in the last season.
