The two Federation Cup finalists and pre tournament favourites – Abahani and Bashundhara Kings will lock horns in the second semifinal of the Walton Independence Cup at the Bangabandhu National Stadium Thursday at 4.30pm.
Federation Cup top scorer Sunday Chizoba and star World Cupper Daniel Colindres will be on focus while, off the pitch, it would be a tactical battle between Bashundhara’s Spanish coach Oscar Bruzon and Abahani’s newly appointed Portuguese coach Mario Lemos.
Both the head coaches talked about their key players – Colindres and Sunday – not being fully fit during their previous quarterfinal encounters, but the positive news is that both are ready to take their respective sides to the second consecutive final.
Bruzon however will miss the services of their key Spanish defender Jorge Gotor Blas and in-form winger Md Ibrahim due to injury while Abahani’s key national defender Topu Barman is uncertain and midfielder Atiqur Rahman Fahad is also “not ready” but Mamunul Islam and Brazilian forward Marcos Vinicius Costa will be available for selection for Abahani and Bashundhara respectively.
Azizov brace gives Sheikh Russel final berth https://t.co/L4ox4JxvaK
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) December 19, 2018
It was dominant 3-1 win for the Sky Blues in the Federation Cup final but Abahani team manager Satyajit Das Rupu looks into the game with a fresh mind. “We are not thinking about the Federation Cup, it’s a different tournament, a new game and different circumstances. We are solely focusing on winning the game and reaching the final.”
Bashundhara team manager Bayazid Alam Zubair Nipu said, “We worked on the mistakes we made during the Federation Cup final and will try to rectify those. We couldn’t resist their attacks in the second half. We will continue to be an attacking side with an improved display in defence because of Sunday and Belfort. The strategy is to make sure they don’t get enough space.”
Nigerian striker Sunday, who put up a match-winning performance in the semifinal and final scoring five goals in two matches, is yet to get a goal in the tournament while Colindres scored one after coming off the bench against Rahmatganj in the last-eight.
BTV World will telecast the game live.