It was a rare occasion indeed as Abahani Limited played a top-flight game without a foreign footballer when they beat newly promoted Fakirerpool Young Men's Club 2-0 in their Bangladesh Premier League 2024-25 opener in Gazipur Saturday.
The record six-time professional league winners went through difficult time since the fall of Awami League government on August 5 and could not form a squad they were previously capable of.
The Sky Blues filled up the squad without a foreign footballer and played a game accordingly for the first time in professional league since its introduction in 2007, said the club's former player and current assistant coach Pranotosh Das.
He also informed that they had only 21 players available for the opening game.
The rest are yet to join the team due to injury and other commitments.
Pranotosh also complained about the pitch in Gazipur.
"The players could not play their usual game because of condition of the pitch. The pitch was bad," said Pranotosh after the game.
Fakirerpool started with three foreigners - two up front and one in defence - but they could not trouble the Abahani backline.
The Sky Blues’ midfield comprising Mohammad Ridoy, Asadul Molla and Papon Singh also combated well.
The attacking duo - Jafar Iqbal and Enamul Islam Gazi - got the goals in the second half as Enamul broke the deadlock with a solo effort before Jafar doubled it in stoppage-time from the penalty spot.
Elsewhere in the day's other match, Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society outplayed Fortis FC 3-1.
