Serial winners Abahani Limited, the country's most illustrious and successful club, have not had the best of times pre- and post-pandemic, going almost three years without a trophy, which is a rare occurrence for the traditional giants.
Mario Lemos' charges though changed all that in the space of three weeks, winning the double of the Independence Cup and the Federation Cup right at the end of 2021 and the beginning of the new year.
Following their second Independence Cup and a record 12th Federation Cup title, the Sky Blues are back where they belong at the summit of Bangladesh football, and the occasion called for a fitting celebration - held at Paragon Convention Hall in Dhanmondi near the Abahani club premises Tuesday afternoon.
It was a nice reunion between current and former players, organizers and officials as the Abahani family looked forward to completing a memorable treble in the upcoming domestic league, scheduled to kick off on February 3.
Abahani's interim director in charge Kazi Nabil Ahmed, MP, Portuguese coach Lemos, Federation Cup's best player Daniel Colindres, forward Nabib Newaj Jibon, Brazilian midfielder Rafael Augusto, midfielder Emon Babu and manager Satyajit Das Rupu all spoke on the occasion and the overriding desire was that of a record seventh league title.
Bangladesh Football Federation vice president Nabil dedicated the double triumph to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the valiant freedom fighters, saying Abahani's successes were double special on the occasion of Bangabandhu's birth centenary and the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh's independence.
Nabil thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for providing inspiration and also paid tribute to the club's founder president Shaheed Sheikh Kamal, chairman Salman F Rahman, and his father and Abahani director in charge Kazi Shahed Ahmed for their contributions over the years in taking the club to the pinnacle of Bangladesh football.
Nabil added, "Bashundhara Kings, Sheikh Jamal, Sheikh Russel, Saif Sporting, we faced these strong teams and overcame all obstacles. The players and team management worked tirelessly to bring us success.
"I also want to thank our manager, who kept in touch with me on phone and WhatsApp, and also with my brother (Kazi Inam Ahmed), on how to reconstruct our side (after almost three-year trophy drought). He (Rupu) did this beautifully."
Nabil informed that Sylhet will be Abahani's home away from home for the next two years as the home of Bangladesh football Bangabandhu National Stadium undergoes renovation work.
Lemos, who won his first silverware with the Dhanmondi-based outfit in the Independence Cup since being appointed in December 2018, in his short speech showed gratitude to the club for keeping faith in him when times were tough, and targeted a first league title in four years.
Bangladesh striker and one of the club captains Jibon echoed the same sentiment, thanking the record league champions for sticking by him during his long-term injury layoff.
Rupu meanwhile went down memory lane and shared stories of behind-the-scenes work that went behind ending Abahani's title drought.
Costa Rican World Cupper Colindres though stole the show as he came up on stage and surprised everyone, saying in almost perfect Bengali, "Assalamualaikum, shubho ratri. Ami ekhane ashte pere khub khushi, Abahani club ke dhonnobad. (Greetings, good evening. I am really happy to be here, thanks to Abahani club."