Football players of Abahani Ltd have sought efficient security from the club after the unwanted incident following the loss to Mohammedan in the semifinal of the Modhumoti Bank Independence Cup on last Thursday.
The football team was left confined at the stadium with the clubs supporters laying siege to the exit of the venue which delayed the players’ departure from the venue by one and a half hours. Meanwhile, the players and officials were reportedly locked in fighting after the match. Goalkeeper Shahidul Alam Sohel, defender Mofazzal Hossain Shaikat, defender Shaikat Bhowmik were reportedly injured after attacks from angry Abahani supporters.
Team Manager Satyajit Das Rupu admitted to the incident. “The angry supporters entered through the gate number two but no player was seriously hurt. The players have urged the club authority to ensure their security. Otherwise, they will not play further. I have informed the matter to the club authority. They will look into the matter,” said Rupu.
Shaikat, however, said that he was hit by the unruly supporters. “The supporters attacked us. It is very unfortunate. We want full security to play football. All the players are thinking the same,” said the defender.
Meanwhile, Enam-e-Khoda Zulu, the leading official of the supporters’ forum denied reports of any player getting injured. “The manager chased the supporters to the gate number two. No player was injured.” However, it seemed that the relationship between the supporters’ forum and the manager is not good. “The manager seems to control all. He does not provide the tickets to the supporters. The previous coach has criticized the manager’s role,” said Zulu.
Rupu denied any such act. “I am doing my duty as per the instruction of the club authority. I don’t cross my limit,” said Rupu.
Abahani is currently in the second position with 19 points, two points adrift of the leader Sheikh Jamal in the Bangladesh Premier League. The team in their traditional sky-blue outfits bowed out of the semifinals of the Federation Cup before Bangladesh Premier League began.
