Jamal-Rusell high profile semi Saturday
Dhaka, January 20: In the thrilling second semifinal of the Grameenphone Federation Cup Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russell lock horns at the Bangabandhu National Stadium at 4:00 pm on Saturday.
The interesting fact is that Sheikh Russell has never reached the final of the Federation Cup while Sheikh Jamal who marked their presence in the football arena last year will be trying to reach their second consecutive final. They lost to Dhaka Abahani by 5-3 goals in the final of the last edition.
Jamal has their own worries as goalie Aminul has been nursing a back pain and defender Mishu also has a strain. Moreover midfielder Yoko Samnik will not be able to play due to yellow card suspension. Russell on the other hand had overcome their injury worries as Siankam Emako , the Cameroonian forward and winger Faisal Mahmood both have recovered.
Saiful Bari Titu, the Sheikh Jamal coach was ready to face a tough time. “They beat us in the group phase and there are no room of any light hearted approach, we have beaten Abahani in the last match but it will not help us on a new day and in a high profile match like the semifinal, we have to be in our best and I have all the respect to Sheikh Russell as an opponent, they can beat us if we commit mistakes” said Titu.
Assogba Allen, Kester and Femi Orunimi, the Nigerian trio will be carrying the hopes of Sheikh Jamal.
Maruful Haque, the coach of Sheikh Russell was not thinking about the group phase success. “It’s a semifinal and they will be more charged than the previous match, we are looking forward to win the match with a controlled and cool approach, Jamal as an opponent is a tough one and they will be motivated as they overcame the hard challenge of Dhaka Abahani in the quarterfinal” said Maruf.
Maruf will be hoping Alamu Bukola Olalekan who scored both the goals in the 2-1 group phase win will fire again and his Nigerian attacker Vitus Mba and Cameroonian forward Earnest Siankam Emako perform upto the mark.