Mariner Young's complete transfers in style
Defending champions Mariner Young's Club added festivity to the ongoing players' transfers as they completed their formalities for the upcoming Premier Division Hockey League yesterday.
Mariner Young's players arrived at the Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium on two elephants and 10 horse-drawn carriages as hundreds of fans danced to music.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Mariner Young's, who won a maiden premier league title in their 27-year history in 2016, formed arguably the best team on paper, signing 17 local players including 10 national team players.
The Motijheel giants kept faith on last edition's captain Mamunur Rahman Chayan and national forward Moinul Islam Kowshik while roping in national forward Pushkor Khisha Mimo, midfielders Hasan Jubayer Niloy and Nayeem Uddin and defenders Rezaul Karim Babu and Mahbub Hossain from last year's runners-up Usha Krira Chakra.
They poached first-choice national team keeper Ashim Gope and defender Farhad Hossain Situl from Abahani while also signing four BKSP players -- goalkeeper Biplob Kuzur, defenders Saiful Alam Shishir and Sarwar Morshed Shawon and midfielder Azizul Islam.
The club's hockey committee chairman Mominul Haq Sayeed said they will try to add some world-class foreign players as well in their bid to retain the title.
“This time we formed a strong team and we will boost our strength with some world-class foreign players. We hope we will bring two or three players from the top-ten list of the world.”
The club has already appointed former national coach Oliver Kurtz as their head coach for the upcoming season, with former national team defender Ashikuzzaman appointed as his deputy.
“Kurtz will arrive here on April 10 to take charge, but we will begin our pre-season training camp under Ashik from tomorrow [Monday],” Sayeed said.
Former national team captain Chayan is one of four players who will play in the league from the services quota. “We are really pleased with the way the club dealt with us,” Chayan said. “Most of the players have already received almost full payment.”