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.