Bangladesh Premier Football League champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Limited have been placed in the same group with Indian league side Mohun Bagan from Kolkata in the King’s Cup scheduled to begin at Changlimithang Stadium in Bhutan on November 15.
Former star Sheikh Jamal winger and Haitian international Sony Norde will be reunited with his former club when they face each other. Norde signed for Mohun Bagan at the end of last season.
Four-time professional football league champions Abahani Limited have been pitted in Group B alongside India’s Assam Electricity, Nepal’s A-Division league champions Manang Marshyangdi Club, Osotspa FC from Thailand and Bhutanese club Ugyen Academy. While in Group A, Druk United from Bhutan and Nakhon Ratchasing Mazda from Thailand will compete alongside Sheikh Jamal and Mohun Bagan.
Abahani began their preparation camp for the King’s Cup four days ago while Sheikh Jamal started theirs three weeks ago. The Sky Blues formed a team mixed with youth and experience as they recruited five players from their archrivals Mohammedan – Nahid, Babu, Wahed Ahmed, Arif and Obam Henry.
Abahani have also roped in the services of Mamun Mia, Shakil Ahmed, Atiqur Rahman Fahad, Aminur Rahman Sajib and Guinea’s Ismael Bangoura from different premier league clubs in order to bolster their squad for the upcoming season. To boost up their forward line, Abahani are likely to recruit Kingsley Chigozie from Muktijoddha but if they fail to recruit him they will opt for Victory Anthony of Brothers Union.
“We take this tournament as a preparation for the forthcoming season. Our primary target is to qualify from the group stages and then the semifinals. We will try to win the title if we reach the final,” said Abahani manager Satyajit Das Rupu yesterday. He also informed that the club will fly to Bhutan on November 10 or 11.
Meanwhile, after losing their best player Norde to Mohun Bagan, Sheikh Jamal also bolstered their squad signing Haitian international Vaniel Sirin who also plays on the wings. Their latest signing was expatriate midfielder Jamal Bhuiyan.