With a combination of majority national players and top quality foreign recruits, this year’s big-fish Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club completed their players’ registration process. They submitted their 25 registration forms, 20 local and five foreign players, to the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) at the BFF House yesterday.
With the presence of nine national players from the recently concluded Saff Championship squad, the Dhanmondi based side is eying to win all silverware this season. After finishing as second best to Sheikh Russell in three professional tournaments last season, Sheikh Jamal bolstered their squad by bringing in 15 new players including Haitian international Sony Norde, who was the architect of Sheikh Russell’s treble winning campaign last season and also arguably the best striker of the league. The deadly striking partnership between Sony and new Haitian signing Wedson will be something the others will be aware of.
Jamal signed the best performers from last season - midfielder Sohel Rana, winger Mobarak Hossain (Mohammedan), strikers Sakhawat Hossain Rony (Abahani), centre-back Kasto and forward Toklis Ahmed (BJMC) apart from the three players from treble winner Sheikh Russell side.
Sheikh Jamal president Manjur Kader said two more foreign players are on their way to join the club. Defender Arwa will come from Nigeria and according to the president the player has already registered for them while they are having talks with striker Daniel, who played in the Poland second division. Femi Orunnimi, who failed to register for the club last season, also joined.
Manjur Kader wants to win every tournament this season and while asked if it would put any extra pressure to the side, Jamal coach Joseph Afusi replied with confidence, “It’s not a pressure. I believe we have the best team in the league and with the players at our disposal, anything less than four trophies will be disappointing.”
The expectation is also high from captain Mamunul Islam and the midfielder feels confident at his new home. “This is a very good team which is better than the last year’s Sheikh Russell side. We have double options at every playing position. We don’t target treble like I won with Sheikh Russell. The team we have, I want to win every tournament this year,” he said.
Squad: Goalkeepers- Mustaq, Zia, Himel, Riad Defenders- Munna, Rayhan, Linkon, Yeasin, Nasir, Didar, Kasto, Zahirul Midfielders- Mamun, Raju, Sohel Rana, Shahed, Okemmiri, Alli, Femi, Sk Rana, Mobarak Strikers- Rony, Toklis, Sony, Wedson.
