Focus on Abahani, East Bengal

The two most popular outfits either side of the border are keen to succeed in the same platform as Abahani and East Bengal begin their campaign in the Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup, getting underway at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong today.

Four-time Bangladesh Premier League champions Abahani will take on Karachi Electric FC in the first match at 4:30pm before 37-time Calcutta League champions East Bengal face hosts Chittagong Abahani at 7:30pm. Channel 9 will telecast both the matches live.

Both Abahani and East Bengal have rich football heritage, but both the teams have hit a lean patch away from home in recent years. Abahani's last international success came in the Bordoloi Cup in 2010 while East Bengal had their last overseas success in the San Miguel International Cup in Nepal in 2012. This time, though, both teams are determined to put an end to their title drought by winning the eight-team invitational tournament.

However, neither of the teams are in a good shape at the moment. Abahani had been out of action for nearly one-and-a-half month since the completion of the professional football league, where they finished fourth. On the other hand, East Bengal had to leave a large number of players for the ongoing Indian Super League.

East Bengal, though, have finished the Calcutta Football League on top, which may give them a big motivation ahead of this tournament. 

“We had to release 14 to 15 players for the ISL. However, it can't be an excuse because wherever we go to play, our target is to satisfy our supporters back home by winning the trophy. The target remains the same here,” said East Bengal coach Biswajit Bhattacharya at the pre-tournament press conference at a hotel in Chittagong yesterday.

Biswajit believes the players at his disposal have no lack of quality compared to the ones who have been released for the ISL.

“I have no clear idea about the opponents of the tournaments, but I am confident that our players will do well,” said Biswajit adding that he was eager to face Bangladesh Premier League champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, who are not taking part in this tournament.

“Though time was short but we have taken good preparation. The strength of the team has increased with the inclusion of Sunday Chizoba, Samad Yussif, Kester Akon and Samson Iliasu, apart from five current players of the Bangladesh football team,” said Abahani coach Amalesh Sen, adding that Abahani's first target is to reach the semifinals.