Rahmatganj defenders found it exceedingly difficult to deal with Bashundhara Kings captain Daniel Colindres in the Federation Cup final, even though Rahmatganj coach Syed Golam Jilani had made plans to deal with the Costa Rican in his new role as striker.
Just 48 hours earlier, Colindres had wreaked havoc on Police FC in the semifinal, playing as a number 9 then as well.
Colindres usually plays on left wing or in midfield for his national team, as he did against Switzerland during Costa Rica’s last game of the World Cup in 2018. He also played most of the matches for Bashundhara from last season to the Federation Cup quarterfinal as a winger.
After scoring a total three goals in the semifinal and final as a striker, in the absence of Lebanese signing Jalal Kdouh, the 34-year-old Colindres said: “I have played in the position [center-forward] a couple of times for the Costa Rica national team. I am stronger as a winger, but I can play as a number 9 too.”
One of Colindres’ goals in the final came from a silly blunder by the Rahmatganj keeper and when asked about it, the Costa Rican gave the example of Karim Benzema’s goal to punish a howler by then-Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius during the UEFA Champions League final in 2018.
#Kings clinch maiden #Federation #Cup title https://t.co/Z2mqavIDGc
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Colindres also scored five goals in the last edition of the Federation Cup, but they lost the final to Abahani Limited.
“It doesn’t matter if I score goals or give assists, I like to contribute to the team. I am glad that our team work is going well and for taking the Federation Cup trophy to our club,” he said.
Bashundhara will make debut in the AFC Cup 2020 as Premier League champions. Best player of the Federation Cup 2019-20 Colindres said: “It is an inspiration [to win the Federation Cup] ahead of the league and AFC Cup, because we will go into the tournaments with more confidence.”
Kings’ coach Oscar Bruzon has always been full of praise for Colindres, and when asked if he had plans to give the Costa Rican more chances at number 9, the Spaniard replied with a smile.
“It seems that we are going this way,” Bruzon said.
