Jimmy guides insipid Mohammedan

National team striker Rasel Mahmud Jimmy scored a hattrick as four-time champions Mohammedan began their Green Delta Insurance Premier Division Hockey League campaign with a 4-0 victory over Ajax SC at the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium yesterday. Maksud Alam Habul scored the other goal for the Black and Whites.

The Motijheel-based outfit, who skipped the season's curtain-raising tournament the Khaza Rahmatulllah Club Cup citing a shortage of players, formed a mediocre squad with a mixture of veteran and young players. Their performance was nowhere near those of title contenders Abahani and Dhaka Mariner Young's Club but thanks to Jimmy's effort they secured a comfortable victory first up.

The Black and Whites looked to be lacking in seriousness and fitness throughout the match.

They were even dominated on occasion, but the youthful Ajax, who had no shortage of effort, could not penetrate the Mohammedan defence or beat experienced goalkeeper Zahid Hasan.

Mohammedan took the lead in the seventh minute, with experienced Habul flicking in Raihan Uddin's hit before Jimmy's reserve-flick on a fierce hit from his younger brother Khaled Mahmud Rakin made it 2-0 in the 20th minute. 

Jimmy was in the thick of things in all of Mohammedan's attacks, and he even took all eight penalty corners for his side. The veteran forward converted two of those with drag-and-flicks in the 24th and 44th minutes to ensure the victory. However, once he left the field due to an injury, Mohammedan's attacking line looked toothless.

“It is good to make a winning start because we didn't have enough substitute players on the bench as one of our players is suffering from injury while two BKSP players are supposed to join the squad tomorrow,” said Mohammedan coach Moududur Rahman Shuvo, who is guiding a premier league side for the first time.

“Our team is a good one because there are some experienced players and young players and you will see the change in the team when the foreign players join. I have faith in these players and we will play for the title,” Shuvo said, adding that they are trying to rope in players from India.

Meanwhile, Azad Sporting Club drew 0-0 against Dhaka Wanderers Club in the first match of the day.