Top-tier football champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, who claimed the title of the Manyavar Bangladesh Premier League 2014-15 season by a convincing margin of nine points, have already turned their attention to next season. The Dhanmondi-based club, who also clinched the season-opening Federation Cup, have retained their entire squad for the upcoming season.
Sheikh Jamal, boasting 13 national representatives in their squad, maintained their early-season form in the 2016 AFC Cup play-offs qualifiers earlier this month where they emerged as the unbeaten group champions.
And club president Manjur Kader promised there would be no let-up from their part as they bid to clinch a hat-trick of top-flight championships in the forthcoming season.
“I am proud of my team and my players. They have enhanced the reputation of Bangladesh, both at home and abroad. I would like to thank and congratulate the coach (Joseph Afusi) and the team management for their effort in continuing the side’s success. I would also like to say I will try my best to keep the team intact for the next season. I do not want to break a winning team,” Manjur told the media during the Bangladesh Under-16 football team’s felicitation programme at the Sheikh Jamal ground yesterday.
Sheikh Jamal manager Anwarul Karim Helal informed that the process of holding on to the best footballers for next season has already been initiated.
“We have already started discussions with the players. I believe no other club in the country are fluent or smart enough, when compared to Sheikh Jamal. I believe none of our players would leave us,” said Helal.
Bangladesh captain and talismanic Sheikh Jamal midfielder Mamunul Islam on the other hand said no other club in the country have training facilities as good as theirs.
“The players here are always upbeat and ready to give hundred percent in the field. That is the main reason behind Sheikh Jamal’s success I think. I hope the club will continue maintaining good relations with the players in the coming days,” said Mamunul.
In the felicitation ceremony, Bangladesh Football Federation president Kazi Salahuddin handed over a letter, sent by embattled Fifa president Joseph Blatter, to Kader. In the letter, the outgoing Fifa supremo congratulated Sheikh Jamal for winning the Bangladesh Premier League this season. BFF senior vice president Abdus Salam Murshedi also acknowledged Sheikh Jamal’s title-winning campaign on behalf of football’s regulatory body in the country.