One of the most top-rated football clubs across the country and Bangladesh Premier Football League outfit Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra wrapped up their player registration formalities in a festive atmosphere at the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) conference room on Wednesday.
The key feature of Russel’s player registration formalities was purchasing country’s numerous quality footballers from various prominent football clubs across the country for the upcoming season. They are under transfer ban Zahid Hossain, Mamun Khan, Hemonto Vincent Biswas, Tapu Barman, Zahid Hasan Ameli from (Mohammedan SC), Mohammad Yasin Khan (Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club), Abdul Hamid Khan Vasani, Wali Faisal Jamal Hossain, Atiqur Rahman Meshu, Jamal Hossain, Shahedul Alam from (Abahani Ltd.) and so on. Muktijoddha Sangsad KS Foreign recruit Nkwocha Kingsley Chigozie also joined the big-budgeted Sheikh Russel KC among the other four foreign recruits.
Last year Sheikh Russell assigned Montenegrin Dragan Dukanovic as their head coach as the first overseas coach of Bangladesh Premier League champions-2013-14 season. Russel finished with sixth spot among 10 teams in the Bangladesh Premier Football League last year.
This year Sheikh Russell showed another magic when legendary sports patron and Managing Director of Bashundhara Group, leading industrial and business conglomerates in the country, Sayem Sobhan Anvir took over the Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra, as the chairman. Therefore, Russel are expected to find their own ground at the Bashundhara Residential Area.
Head Coach Dragan Dukanovic seemed happy to have a balanced side to compete with other BPL candidates.
“We have a balanced team and I think that the team are superior in comparison to the last year’s team. We are targeting the AFC play-off and the BPL title. We are confident about proving our superiority by playing power football with a flock of football talents in the field,” Russel coach said.
“Last year we made a lot of mistakes. Whatever happened in the end, I am now happy to find a strong side and we are now looking forward to our AFC qualifying playoff opponents Tajikistan. We are keen to show something,” Dukanovic added.
Meanwhile, BFF vice president Badal Roy also welcomed Sheikh Russel in his talking.
“It is nice to see that Sheikh Russel completed their player registration lavishly. They arranged a big-budgeted team as one of the favorite teams for upcoming BPL season. They also appointed overseas coach. Bashundhara Group, leading industrial and business conglomerates in the country is also with Russel now as Managing Director of the Bashundhara Group took over the Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra. So everything is new for Sheikh Russel. I hope Sheikh Russel will play astonishing football this year,” Badal Roy said.
Sheikh Russel KC marked their name in the history books as the first Bangladeshi club to earn a second-round slot in the AFC President’s Cup last year. Sheikh Russel will face Tajikistan in the AFC qualifying playoff on February 10.
Squad: Goalkeepers- Mamun Khan (Mohammedan), Rasel Mahmud Liton Defenders- Bojan Petric, Md. Masud Rana, Rakibul Islam Roni, Aminul Islam, Waly Faisal, Rezaul Karim, Mohammad Yasin Khan, Tapu Barman, Nazrul Islam, Sohel Rana, Abdul Hamid Khan Vasani, Murad Hasan, Asaduzzaman Bablu, Rockey, Midfielders- Sheikh Mohammad Ashraf Hossain, under transfer ban Zahid Hossain, Jamal Hossain, Shahedul Alam, Fazle Rabbi, Atiqur Rahman Mishu, Hemonto Vincent Biswas,Mokhlesur Rahman, Sufian Yousuf Sifat, Rumman Hossain, Forwards- Zahid Hasan Ameli, Mithun Chowdhury, Nkwocha Kingsley Chigozie.