Domestic football in Bangladesh is all set to return on the pitch after nine months through the season opening Walton Federation Cup 2020, which kicks off in the capital Tuesday.
Reigning champion Bashundhara Kings and Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society, the finalists of the 2019 edition, will take on each other in the inaugural game at Bangabandhu National Stadium at 5:30pm.
The last domestic game was held at the same venue on March 15 with Abahani Limited beating Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra 4-1 in the sixth-round fixture of the Bangladesh Premier League.
All sports activities in the country were then suspended due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.
The Kings were the first among 13 clubs to resume training activities during the pandemic.
They first started preparation for the AFC Cup 2020 which later got postponed yet again, but carried on residential camp since September.
National team players got the opportunity to train on the field together from October 24, ahead of the two-match Mujib Barsho Fifa International Friendly Series against Nepal the following month.
Rest of the BPL clubs did not start practice camp before November.
Almost all of them didn’t get the time of at least one and a half months, the minimum requirement for pre-season preparation, and thus will lack full match fitness in the Cup.
Not only considering preparation time, the Kings are also favorite in terms of quality and depth of the squad.
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They have the most number of national players.
Costa Rican World Cupper Daniel Colindres is not here anymore and all the foreign recruits are new but they too offer bright prospects to shine.
Spanish tactician Oscar Bruzon also believes his side has got better than last season and eyes will be on every trophy available for the season.
The opening fixture is a rematch of the 2019 and the local players are also the same among the two sides.
It was not easy for star-studded Kings to win the game 2-1.
Rahmatganj exhibited some bravery to reach their maiden Fed Cup final.
They will miss the service of three of their foreign players in Tuesday's crucial game due to their late arrival.
Head coach Syed Golam Jilani is relying on young local members to cover the gap with less than a month’s preparation.
Record 11-time champion Abahani coach Mario Lemos is well aware of the uncertainty of Cup competition.
They were better prepared prior to last season because of AFC Cup fixtures but stumbled against Rahmatganj in the dramatic 2019 quarter-final.
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Sky Blues called their camp in the first week of November without the national players, and Lemos, who joined at the end of the month.
The Portuguese tactician admitted it will not be easy to deal with high expectations which comes with being a traditional powerhouse, but his charges are confident, brave and ready to go.
They kick off against eternal rival Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited Thursday.
Black and Whites are geared up under Sean Lane with a new group of young members for the new season.
The players seemed motivated and showed consistency since the arrival of the English coach.
If they carry on, it will create new waves among the fan base of the 10-time winner.
The young group of Saif Sporting Club is also eager to prove their potential to new Belgian head coach Paul Put without captain Jamal Bhuiyan while Arambagh Krira Sangha also formed a comparatively younger squad and gave the responsibility to Indian coach Subrata Bhattacharya who nurtured the team in Nilphamari.
Police Football Club brought back Sri Lankan coach Packeer Ali to Bangladesh once again as new head coach.
The former Abahani defender said during the pre-tournament press conference that he has a young team and hopes to give a run for their money to every opponent.
Former winners Lt. Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Limited and Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra kept former national team head coaches Shafiqul Islam Manik and Saiful Bari Titu respectively.
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Manik wants to start from where they left off last season while Titu hopes to rectify last season’s errors and improve.
Chittagong Abahani Limited look favorites alongside Kings and Abahani.
Maruful Haque kept the squad unchanged including the foreigners. who however. joined the side late.
But like most of the clubs, he also suspects the players will not be fully fit due to long pandemic pause and short preparation.
Brothers Union have had the worst preparation as they were expected to have their lone team practice session a day before the Cup opening.
The name of interim head coach Mahidur Rahman Miraj was also announced on the same day.
All the clubs were asked to submit the Covid-19 reports of the team members before the game.
BFF general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag informed that they have aligned an officer to look into the pandemic situation because of health safety.