MSC look to Jimmy & Pakistani players

Mohammedan SC completed their registration formalities for the upcoming Premier Division Hockey League yesterday evening, with 18 local players including star forward and national team captain Rasel Mahmud Jimmy alongside a few other experienced and young players making the squad.

The Black and Whites were reportedly in a quandary over whether to take part in the transfer as the club was keen on deferring the transfers by a few days, but they eventually appeared at the eleventh hour.

However, as only 11 of the 13 teams completed the registration formalities, the transfer window, which was supposed to end yesterday, has been extented till Saturday.

Bangladesh Sporting and Usha KC are yet to take part in the transfers. It has been learnt that the extension has been made so that these two teams can still complete their registration.

Meanwhile, Mohammedan's current coordinator Ariful Haque Prince said that the delay in registration happened as they waited for their hockey committee chairman Shafi Ullah Al Munir.

“Actually the reason for the delay was that we waited for our hockey committee chairman Minur bhai. To be honest, it is a matter of huge involvement of money, and without him it is really tough to handle about Taka 80 to 90 lakhs. However the club eventually decided to complete the transfers,” Prince said. “Mohammedan always forms the team to become champions, whether it is hockey, football or any other sport. This time also we tried to form a strong side to fight for the championship.

“We keep up our effort to confirm the services of the national captain Jimmy, along with some others who proved themselves as the country's premier performers like [Kamruzzaman] Rana, Imran Hasan [Pintu], Zahid Hossain.”

The former player claimed they have contacted four Pakistanis while they will also try to add one or more German players to the roster.

“All four players of Pakistan are national team members. Alim Billal is a defender and a drag-and-flick specialist; Kawsar Abbas is a defensive midfielder; Mohammed Tousif is a midfielder who played for Abahani last season. We will also have the option to sign one off three strikers – Irfan Butt, Mohammed Izaz and Mohammed Omar,” Prince revealed.

He also informed that there will be four young players from the BKSP -- one in each position.