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Giants kept apart

SPORTS REPORTER
Abahani Krira Chakra and Mohammedan Sporting Club avoided an early head-on collision in the fourth Nitol-Tata National Football League after the number draw kept the two popular giants in separate groups yesterday.
The colorful draw, which for a refreshing change featured a host of former national footballers, also placed Abahani in a relatively easy group with holders Muktijoddha Sangsad, Chittagong Mohammedan and three qualifiers Najirpara Krira Chakra of Chandpur, Brothers Union of Panchagarh and Kararchar Krira Chakra of Narshingdi.
The lottery certainly proved a good omen for Abahani after almost missing the NFL bus following a forgettable last season, where they failed to collect any
domestic silverware.
Last year's runners-up Mohammedan, on the other hand, formed a relatively strong group with a reborn Brothers Union and Premier League sensation Sheikh Russell Krira Chakra. The three first-round qualifiers in this group are Jhenai-dah Mohammedan, Unmochon Club of Bagerhat and Bangladesh Air Force.
The 12-team finals will kick-off in Mymensingh, one of the four different venues of the first phase, on July 18.
Bangladesh Television will telecast all matches live from four venues and the final phase to be held in Dhaka unless the schedule collides with the Asia Cup fixture.
There was however good news for the big guns that the fast growing popular domestic football competition will commence four days behind the scheduled start on July 14.
The delayed start means the top footballers of the country will get some time to rest their tired legs after a hectic Chittagong League, which concluded on Friday.
It will also give the title contenders a small window of time to prepare although they will not get the two-week break they had asked for.
"The ground at the Momenshahi Stadium has been badly damaged and it will take some time to repair it. Even if there are further rains, we would be able to prepare it for a July 18 start," said NFL tournament committee secretary Manzoor Hossain Malu at a press conference before the draw ceremony at Hotel Sheraton.
The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF), which was severely criticised for spoiling the number draw last year by ignoring footballers and introducing a bunch of film stars, this time gave it a pure football look.
State Minister for Youth and Sports Fazlur Rahman graced the brief but lively ceremonial as chief guest. The highlight of the occasion was the presentation of a first theme song of the National League.
BFF president SA Sultan, general
Giants
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secretary Anwarul Haque Helal, sponsor Nitol Group's chairman Matlub Ahmed, marketing agency LSM's managing director SS Das Gupta were also present.
The championship offers a cash award of Taka five lakh for the winners and Taka three lakh for runners-up.
The highest scorer of the finals will get Tk 5,000 for each of his goals from sponsors Nitol Group while the BFF will reward Tk 50,000 to the player of the tournament.
The BFF is getting Tk 50 lakh from the sponsors and Tk 25 lakh from National Sports Council to run the biggest football show of the country.
Group A: Muktijoddha, Abahani, Chittagong Mohammedan, Najirpara KC, Brothers Union of Panchagarh and Kararchar KC.
Group B: Dhaka Mohammedan, Brothers Union, Sheikh Russell KC, Jhenaidah Mohammedan, Unmochon Club and Bangladesh Air Force.