Super Final on Super Saturday
Dhaka, August 5: Defending champions Mohammedan Sporting Club
and their arch rivals Dhaka Abahani lock horns in the repeat final of the
Grameenphone Super Cup at the Bangabandhu National Stadium at 3:30 pm on
Saturday.
BTV and Bangladesh Radio will transmit the match live. Back in 27th April 2009, Dhaka Mohammedan rode on the goal of Nigerian
John Godwin to defeat Dhaka Abahani 1-0 and won the prize money of Tk one crore
or 10 million.
Mohammedan captain Hasan Al Mamun was booming with
confidence. “We are now a changed outfit, we are playing attacking football. We
had a goal that we will gift Mohammedan a trophy this year. I think we are
walking that way” said the veteran defender.
“We welcome football
fans to come again stadium. We promise that they will enjoy a competitive
final. We hope to win our supporters heart through playing good
football” added Mamun.
He also admitted the opponent’s prowess. “I always respect
our opponent Abahani and they are very strong. I think Abahani also takes us like
that” said the Mohammedan skipper.
Dhaka Mohammedan coach Shafikul Islam Manik was also hopeful of clinching the title.
“Don’t blame that we did a bad result in the league. We did our best to do a
good result. And we did as per our strength. We played Independence Cup
semifinal and reached Super Cup final. I am very pleased to our players and
they are geared up to beat Abahani in the final” said Manik.
Abahani manager Satayjit Das Rupu however was ready to
counter the challenge. “ I hope the final between Abahani will be very much
competitive. We cannot think Bangladesh
football without Abahani and Mohammedan. We had many lackings in attacking
position in the league. We did work on
it and we got result in the last match.
We did cameback two times after conceding goals.
“Our opponent is very strong but we will not give an inch
land without fight. It is 90 minutes game every team can win if it avail the
chances.” said Rupu.
Abahani coach Amalesh Sen sees the resurgence of the
traditional rivalry. “I hope Abahani
–Mohammedan match will inspire fans and club to bring the fierce rivlay in the
field. It will give resurgence our football, we are ready to take the title
home after the frustration of the last edition” said the veteran coach.
Abahani skipper Pranotosh said the final is a game of
minimum chances and maximum utilization. “I remember the last final, we just
did not score a goal but got a number of chances, this time we want to utilize the chances and
win the title” said the midfielder.