Following four semi-final exits, Tangail Football Academy are finally confident of taking the trophy home as they take on Bangladesh Ansar and VDP in the final of the Pioneer Football League 2014-15 today at Bangabandhu National Stadium.
The Tangail team are solely operated by coach Atikur Rahman Khan Jamil, who sold his property and land in order to build and run the academy. His dream was and still is to produce footballers for the nation and can count national full-back Rayhan Hasan as one of his disciples. Rayhan is currently playing in the Premier League for defending champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club and is also a vital part of the national side.
“We played in the semi-final four times before but never managed to reach the final. This time we made it to the last two. Hopefully, we will win tomorrow (today) if luck favours us,” said Jamil yesterday. In 11 matches, Tangail have won nine and drawn two.
Ansar on the other hand are playing in the Pioneer Football League for the very first time and they have not lost a single match yet, having won 10 and drawn one.
Ansar coach Hasan al Masud said, “All the credit goes to the players for making it to the final. We will try to play positive football and come up as champions.”