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NFL kicks off today

STAFF CORRESPONDENT, Ctg
Mohammedan Sporting Club will launch their title defence of the Nitol-Tata National League at MA Aziz Stadium here today.
The black and whites will also be hoping for a repeat act of last season where they won all three major domestic titles.
Their first match is against Jamalpur Jagarani Club, who are making their first appearance in the ten-team final round of the prestigious competition.
The match will kick off at 4pm with Bangladesh Television providing live coverage.
Mohammedan's arch-rivals and last year's runners-up Abahani Krira Chakra also reached the port city. They will play in the Group B opener against Bangladesh Army on Saturday.
Meanwhile, football fans in Chittagong though divided in loyalty towards the two popular
teams, are very focused on how their own boys perform under the banner Chittagong Mohammedan Sporting Club.
They will be hoping their team spirit will carry them into the super-six stage of the third National Football League.
"We want to emulate what Chittagong Abahani did last year and even try to go further," said a confident Syed Shahabuddin Shamim, general secretary of Chittagong MSC.
But to even achieve third place, the popular Chittagong club will have to overcome a tough draw.
"The draw held last week in Dhaka appears to be a tough one. We will have to battle against Dhaka giants Abahani, Muktijoddha and Arambagh. Besides, there is Bangladesh Army," commented Ali Abbas, another team official.
Even though the general feeling is that Group B will be the competition's 'death of group' yet Shamim was not overawed by the prospect.
"It doesn't matter how strong your opponents are. Rather, I
think, it will give an advantage to a team like ours which contains no foreign players."
"Our advantage is that we formed a team well before our rivals. And so we could prepare in advance."
On the other hand, long-serving coach Nazrul Islam was unhappy with the draw.
"We have to face three big Dhaka clubs and also take on the Army."
The burley coach believed his side's midfield and frontline were very strong.
"In midfield, we have promising players like Askar Babu and two national youth players Kaiser and Arman. They can provide depth."
"But we will be banking on former national striker Shahajuddin Tipu to get the goals."
Last month Mohammedan supporters rejoiced when they became zonal champions at the Noakhali stadium. SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS: Raju (Muktijo-ddha) and Tarek (Victoria)
DEFENDERS: Shafiq (captain, Dhaka Wanderers Club), Kingshuk (Badda Jagarani), Showkat (Farashganj Sporting Club), Israfil (Dhanmondi Club), Nezamat (Dhaka Wanderers Club), Apu Barua (Badda Jagarani) and Faisal (Rahmatganj MFS)
MIDFIELDERS: Kaiser (Victoria), Askar Babu (Badda), Abul (Dhan-mondi Club), Parvez (Dhanmondi Club), Arman (Victoria Sporting Club) and Babu Khan (Agrani Bank) STRIKERS: Shahajuddin Tipu (Rahmatganj MFS), Tapu (Dhan-mondi Club) and Yousuf (Dhaka Wanderers Club).
Coach: Nazrul Islam Ledu.