The transfer window for the upcoming football season 2012-13 opens today with most of the Bangladesh Premier League giants, including defending champions Abahani Limited, yet to complete their squads.
The transfer window will end on October 15 for the local players while it will be open for another 15 days for the foreign footballers.
Holders Abahani lost a bunch of big names like Zahid Hossain, Ashraf Mahmud Linkon, and Mamun Miah to Sheikh Russell KC, but have confirmed the service of Abdul Baten Majumder Komol, Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, Atiqur Rahman Meshu and Shawkat Russell to recompense the vacancy.
The Dhanmondi based club’s manager Satyajit Rupu told New Age that they are still working on the team as they are yet to confirm some of their overseas players while confirmation of the coach is also an issue after their contract with Iranian Ali Akbar was over last season.
‘We will register our players after the Eid vacation as we have some final touches to put on the team. We, however, did not loss too many players after the last season and we have replaced the vacant spots with appropriate alternatives,’ said Rupu.
Previous season runners-up Muktijoddha Sangsad KC suffered the biggest blow as they were left fragile after the departures of performers like Nasir Chowdhury, Zahid Hasan Ameli, Mithun Chowdhury, Rezaul Karim, Mamunul Islam, Ariful Islam, Rajan Mia, Shakil Ahmed, Mohammad Nehal and Sunday Chizoba.
Unlike Abahani, Muktis management failed to mend the damage as they are yet to finalise their squad which, according to their manager Abdus Sattar, will not be as strong as the last edition.
‘Almost all of our last year’s remarkable players have left. We are in talk with some footballer to make a new team, but we still have not confirmed any one. We will register our players at the end of the window,’ Sattar said.
Sheikh Russell KC, on the other hand, had to count a lot of money to build a formidable side this year. Other
than the Abahani trio, Russell have secured Ameli, Nasir, Reza, Mamunul, Mithun, Rajan Mia and Nehal while they retained Biplob Bhattacharjee, Uttam Kumar Banik, Emon Mahmud Babu, Anwar Hossain and Sohel Rana.
Russell are also eying for a better foreign collection and as a surprise they are not opting for any Africans, a common region from where most the overseas footballers come to Bangladesh.
‘We will choose foreign players from Morocco, Brazil and Argentina. We will select six players from the 11 we are in a talk with,’ said Russell president Nurul Alam Chowdhury.
Last season’s third placed team Mohammedan Sporting Club are expecting a better performance this year as they, according to their director in charge Lokman Hossain, got the best side in their recent history.
‘We will play for the title. This is the best team Mohammedan has formed in last three years. The rest is depending on the foreigners,’ said Lokman while he also informed that they have confirmed three overseas players - Augustin Chizoba, Daniel and Baybeck.
Former BPL champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club roped in some big local names while they are spending a lot on the foreigners as they are eyeing to reclaim their glory.
They confirmed the service of Arif, Siakat, Shakil, Yaseen Ahmed, Yeamin Ahmed Munna, Alamgir Kabir Rana, Mostaque Ahmed, Shahedul Alam and Sultan while they also recruited seven Nigerians including Sunday and Comte Bangoura informed the club’s manager Anwarul Karim Helal.