Fed Cup Final Preview
Dhaka, January 23: The Federation Cup will see new champions on Tuesday as Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club and Team BJMC lock horns in the final of the Grameenphone Federation Cup at 4:00 pm at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
Finance minister A.M.A. Muhith will be the chief guest and will distribute the prizes.
Sheikh Jamal lost to Dhaka Abahani by 5-3 goals in their maiden final, last year while Team BJMC will be eager to win the trophy in their very first final appearance.
Both the team passed tough tests before cruising to the final as Team BJMC had a hard time in a 2-0 win against Muktijoddha while Sheikh Jamal beat Sheikh Russell in the same margin in the semifinals.
Sheikh Jamal will be struggling as they will miss their Nigerian forward Assogba Allen due yellow card suspensions and defender Raihan Ahmed will also be in the missing list for the same cause. However Team BJMC has no such worries.
Saiful Bari Titu, the coach of Sheikh Jamal was ready to face tough challenge. “They have beaten Muktijoddha twice in the tournament and their advantage is they have group of mature local players, I will feel the absence of Assogba Allen very much, I think the match will be an even one and we are determined to win with a perfect teamwork” said Titu.
His counterpart Zakaria Babu was thinking only about the title. “We will be taking the field to win the match and I know Sheikh Jamal is a strong unit, however the players are in top of their confidence and are ready to present the trophy to the team, winning the title in the very first appearance is indeed a great success, we are motivated to do that” said Babu.
The winners will be receiving a purse of Tk 500000.00 while the runners-up will get Tk. 300000.00.