The two most popular and successful clubs in the history of top-flight football in Bangladesh, Abahani Limited and Mohammedan SC, will lock horns with each other today in the season's second and final Dhaka Derby in the Manyavar Bangladesh Premier League.
The encounter kicks off at Bangabandhu National Stadium at 6:30pm and will be preceded by the other league match between Sheikh Russel KC and Rahmatganj MFS. These two matches will determine who will finish as the runners-up side.
Both the traditional arch-rivals have been ruled out of the title race a long time ago. While the Black and Whites are third with 37 points, the Sky Blues are fifth with 34 points having played a game less. The season's first derby was won by Mohammedan, courtesy a solitary strike by Mohammad Ibrahim.
“It has become a game of pride since both of us are out of title contention. We have to win against Mohammedan to keep our pride intact. We also want to beat Sheikh Jamal in the last match as well,” said Abahani's interim coach Amalesh Sen yesterday.
“As a former player and coach, it is really sad to be out of the race so early. We could not score many goals in the first phase but things improved after we signed Sunday [Chizoba] in the second phase. Losing points against Brothers [Union] and Chittagong Abahani cost us heavily,” added the veteran coach.
Mohammedan coach Joshimuddin Joshi on the other hand said, “[Today's] match is a match of pride for us. We won the game in the first phase. We want to finish the league on a winning note. They are a good team so hopefully it will be an interesting contest.”
