Traditional rivals Abahani Ltd and Dhaka Mohammedan Ltd will lock horns for sheer prestige in the Walton Federation Cup at 6:00pm at the Bangabandhu National Stadium today.
There are a number of unusual factors that have attracted the football folks ahead of this Group D match as both the teams are guided by their interim coaches. Abahani sent their Australian coach Nathan Hall back just before the opening of the curtain raiser tournament as Amalesh Sen, the long serving coach will be on the helm of Sky Blues till Iranian Ali Akbar Parmoslemi takes charge.
On the other hand, Mohammedan, the traditional Black and White outfits will be guided by former national captain Jewel Rana who is supposed to be working as the assistant to Saiful Bari Titu. Mohammedan reportedly is yet to strike a deal with Titu, who guided them to the glory of Super Cup last season. Titu, however, is also ill which put Jewel in charge.
It is after eight years that the traditional rivals will face each other in the group phase. Last time the giants were pitted in the same group was in 2005 and Mohammedan will definitely want to erase the bitter memory as Abahani demolished them 5-1 in that game. Till date the powerhouses have met on 14 occasions and Mohammedan has won eight times, Abahani won five teams while the other one was a draw.
The match will be a special one for Ghanaian forward Osie Morrison who played for Mohammedan last season. He celebrated his debut for the new club with a fabulous hat-trick against Rahmatganj in their opening fixture and he looks in superb form.
However, Mohammedan will also have their gladiators in national attacking duo of Emily and Zahid. Emily showed his class with a hat-trick in their first match while Zahid also netted one. Wahed, the other striker of Mohammedan will also be a man to watch.
Abahani manager Satyajit Das Rupu was looking forward to play a good brand of football. “We are already in the quarterfinals and now we are looking to become the group champion. Nobody can guarantee who can win, it is the first big match of the season and some pressure is there. Success depends upon utilising the chances, it will be a tough one as nobody wants to lose,” said Rupu before adding that their Brazilian midfielder Luis De Souza is all set to play today.
Jewel Rana also echoed the same as his counterpart and said, “It’s a match of prestige and group championship will be an advantage. We conceded two goals against Rahmatganj and it’s a matter of concern. We will not play for a draw, our midfield performance was also not satisfactory and we need more from the foreigners. Players have to perform and we have to score goals, not concede.”
