SPORTS EDGE

Football
Reds against all odds
Al Musabbir Sadi

Muktijoddha captain Titu (front) leads a warm-up session during the club's opening day's training at the BG Press ground yesterday. Photo: STAR'Muktijoddha Sangsad began their training session for the coming football season'.This would be news to those who had closely followed the football club's struggle in the recent months. However, a few determined players, willing to do something special to honour the country's freedom fighters and their sacrifice, opted to be loyal and fight for the club's survival.Led by Feroz Mahmud Titu, Muktijoddha had taken part in the transfer for the season just one day before the deadline even without getting permission from Muktijoddha Sangsad's Central Command Council.A number of stars like Aminul, Rajani, Hassan Al Mamun, Arman Aziz and finally, Matiur Munna departed due to the uncertainty but those who stuck together have come as far as it can get."We have started training yesterday and considering the situation a few months earlier, it looks like a miracle," Titu told The Daily Star yesterday."Everyday, we used to go door to door seeking permission to build the team but it never came. A few players left, I have no grudge against them as everyone has his right to choose, but I was encouraged to go on by my colleagues who did not bother about money even after two off-seasons. "We felt that the club had given so much to the footballers that it was our duty to pay something back."The permission came a week after we had completed the transfer formalities on our own and with support from Dhaka City Unit Command's Amir Hossain Mollah."Adviser to Sangsad and also to the club, Maj Gen (retd) Amin Chowdhury has now taken steps to remove the financial crisis."He (Amin's) needed the permission of the Central Command to get involved and now he has become active. We hope we will not suffer any financial strains. Even we can become more solvent than other clubs and recruit quality foreign players to make a formidable side like the past."Titu's optimism, however, will only be proved once the game rolls into the field at the end of this month with the Federation Cup. The Reds have lost a score of top stars and it would be hard to fill in the gaps."We finished third in the inaugural B. League and if we can have quality foreign players, we want to retain at least our last year's position," hoped the recent past national fullback, who also worked as a day labourer with his colleagues to repair the uneven BG Press ground, their new practice venue.Instead of a posh life at a decent flat and training facilities at Uttara's Police Lines ground, the Reds players will now make their camp at five ordinary rooms adjacent to the new ground."It will be the residential camp for those who come outside from the city and we have made some adjustments for their comfort," added Titu, one of the few seniors who will work from home.Apart from old guard Charles Ghansah, the Ghanaian centre-back, Nigerian defenders Victor and Michael took part in the opening day's training.Muktijoddha managed to retain midfielder Biddyut, defender Azizi Al Arman, ex-national forward Kanchan and confirmed experienced players like Brothers goalkeeper Nizam (Brothers), Mohammedan defender Biplab, midfielders Asif (Chittagong Mohammedan), Jalaluddin (Brothers), Sentu (Mohammedan) and forwards Amin Rana (Sheikh Russel), Milon (Rahmatganj) and Walid (Mohammedan).Promising players like Himel, Rajib, Rony, Bappi and Masud will provide the steam. At the helm is Asgar Ali Nasir, the man who received high accolades for Khulna Abahani's lively brand of football in the inaugural B. League.The new Muktijoddha coach admitted that the giants have lost much of their strength but his side are stronger than his last year's charges."They failed to retain the top players due to financial crisis but it seems to be over. I hope to make a competitive team out of the squad and my team will play rhythmic football," said Nasir."I did it with Khulna Abahani and feel confident to do it again with the Reds who have the potential to finish among the top four. The Federation Cup is not the target but I think we have enough time to prepare the team for the professional league."We will try hard to prove that we still have the material to play good football and that Muktijoddha are not a spoiled force. It depends a lot on the coach's planning and approach. We will be there to entertain the crowd for sure but for result, we will need a little bit of luck in addition to good foreign collection."
One of several CNG filling stations between Kanchpur Bridge and Jatrabari of the capital which BNP big shots built on the Kutubkhali canal, drastically reducing Dhaka's drainage capability. PHOTO: STAR
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