Abahani face MSC in 1st of 'best of three matches' today
Monday, 3 December 2007
Country's two popular clubs -- Abahani Limited and Mohammedan Sporting Club -- face each other in the first of the 'best of three football matches' today (Monday) at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) in the city to raise funds for the cyclone victims, reports UNB.
The match will kick off at 4:30 pm. Before that women booters of the national team, divided into two sides, will play a 20-minute exhibition match.
The rest of the two matches between these two giants will be played on December 5 and December 7, also at the BNS. State-run mobile phone company Teletalk will feature as the title sponsor of the three charity matches.
Ahead of Monday's encounter, Abahani Limited Manager Satyajit Das Rupu at a press conference at the BFF Bhaban said with the match proceeds they would be able to extend their support to the Sidr-affected people.
MSC Additional Secretary Mostaqur Rahman expressed hope that the spectators would show up in large numbers. "We have already played two exhibition matches (in Sylhet and Tangail). We want to stand beside the affected people and hope to see people coming out in large numbers to watch the matches."
Abahani Limited captain Arif Khan Joy also expressed hope that the country's football would regain the excitement through these encounters.
Asked about the present condition of the popular 'sky blue' Dhanmondi outfit, team manager Rupu said they were without any practice for the last eight days after the last match of the 'Borduloi Trophy' played on November 22.
Besides, two key players -- right back Mohiuddin Ibnul Siraji and medio Mehdi Hasan Uzzal -- will miss the match due to injury.
He, however, gave an indication of a good fight as they have recruited national striker Saifur Rahman Moni, Matiur Rahman Munna and Sonny as guest players along with Domenick as a foreign player.
MSC coach Shafiqul Islam Manik looked unhappy with his team's preparations as they withdrew their regular camp after the postponement of the Friendship Cup.
But the former national defender took the three-match series as a challenge saying, "Definitely, the matches will be very challenging and very important for us."
BFF President SA Sultan said the musical concert scheduled for December 8 will not be held and the entire proceeds of the three-match series will go to the Chief Adviser's Relief and Welfare Fund.
The tickets for the matches will be available at different booths in the city. The rates of tickets were fixed at Tk 100 for VIP gallery (one match), Tk 30 for any gallery (one match) and Tk 75 for the galleries for all the three matches.
'Radio Today', the official partner of the exhibition matches, will give match updates after every five minutes.
Shomarthok Gosthi of both Abahani Limited and Mohammedan SC carried out a massive campaign in different parts of the city and its adjoining areas to make the series a success.
The match will kick off at 4:30 pm. Before that women booters of the national team, divided into two sides, will play a 20-minute exhibition match.
The rest of the two matches between these two giants will be played on December 5 and December 7, also at the BNS. State-run mobile phone company Teletalk will feature as the title sponsor of the three charity matches.
Ahead of Monday's encounter, Abahani Limited Manager Satyajit Das Rupu at a press conference at the BFF Bhaban said with the match proceeds they would be able to extend their support to the Sidr-affected people.
MSC Additional Secretary Mostaqur Rahman expressed hope that the spectators would show up in large numbers. "We have already played two exhibition matches (in Sylhet and Tangail). We want to stand beside the affected people and hope to see people coming out in large numbers to watch the matches."
Abahani Limited captain Arif Khan Joy also expressed hope that the country's football would regain the excitement through these encounters.
Asked about the present condition of the popular 'sky blue' Dhanmondi outfit, team manager Rupu said they were without any practice for the last eight days after the last match of the 'Borduloi Trophy' played on November 22.
Besides, two key players -- right back Mohiuddin Ibnul Siraji and medio Mehdi Hasan Uzzal -- will miss the match due to injury.
He, however, gave an indication of a good fight as they have recruited national striker Saifur Rahman Moni, Matiur Rahman Munna and Sonny as guest players along with Domenick as a foreign player.
MSC coach Shafiqul Islam Manik looked unhappy with his team's preparations as they withdrew their regular camp after the postponement of the Friendship Cup.
But the former national defender took the three-match series as a challenge saying, "Definitely, the matches will be very challenging and very important for us."
BFF President SA Sultan said the musical concert scheduled for December 8 will not be held and the entire proceeds of the three-match series will go to the Chief Adviser's Relief and Welfare Fund.
The tickets for the matches will be available at different booths in the city. The rates of tickets were fixed at Tk 100 for VIP gallery (one match), Tk 30 for any gallery (one match) and Tk 75 for the galleries for all the three matches.
'Radio Today', the official partner of the exhibition matches, will give match updates after every five minutes.
Shomarthok Gosthi of both Abahani Limited and Mohammedan SC carried out a massive campaign in different parts of the city and its adjoining areas to make the series a success.