& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

PREMIER LEAGUE

Team watch: Brothers Union

Football

SPORTS REPORTER
Brothers Union might have gone through a lot of changes since their fairy tale return to top flight football last year that saw the passionate Gopibagh-based club lift their maiden Premier League title and follow it up with the National League.
But when Brothers start their title defence of the Premier League on May 20 they will be the best bet to retain the coveted domestic competition despite missing their inspirational Indian coach Naimuddin and a host of star booters like Arman, Alfaz, Rajani, Titu, Nazrul, Biplab and Iqbal.
The men in Orange after languishing in the lower tire for a decade already proved that they are here to stay by winning the Federation Cup last month and finishing second behind Mukti-joddha in the Independence Cup under their new coach Wajed Gazi.
Besides, to make up for the absence of those experienced footballers Brothers roped in last year's bright performers and defensive stalwarts Masud Rana and Jewel Rana. The two old guns apart, they also lured Abahani's prolific striker Khokon, defensive midfielder Pranotosh and fullback Siraji, who have already impressed Gazi in their first two tournaments of the season.
They have also retained talented Abul, national team's Liton and Parvez Babu in the midfield and striker Emily. But Brothers' key to success will be Russian striker Victor Edwards, who top-scored last year and also showed great form at the start of the ongoing season. The most significant thing, however, is the time of preparation they got ahead of the league.
"Unlike previous years, we have had very good preparation. Having already reached two finals this year, I believe we have the team to go for the Premier League title," said manager Amer Khan yesterday.
Brothers have already played ten matches in local tournaments and three games in the AFC Cup, which will be vital for their league campaign, thinks Amer.
The tired Brothers squad only returned home on Saturday after their AFC Cup tie in Turkmenistan, where they drew goalless with Nisa FC.
"Our form says we are prepared for a steady run in the League. We have made the tactical changes during this time and we have a very good first eleven.
"For example, Mohammed Ali started under the bar but he has been replaced by Tareq, who has proved that he can sustain the pressure of a long league. He not only played well in the Federation Cup but also stopped a penalty against Nisa in our away game last week. Our strong substitute bench is also good enough to cover for injury worries, which we do not have at this moment."
Brothers have confirmed Edward and Moroccan midfielder Hicham Inani as their two foreign recruits but were yet to decide about Adil Okero, whose spectacular goal earned them a 1-0 win over Muktijoddha Sangsad in the Federation Cup final.
"We have no problems fielding three foreign booters but I am against the federation's new ruling about increasing the quota from two. It will affect the rise of local youngsters.
"We have a balanced side but I think defence is our biggest strength. The experience of Masud Rana and Jewel counts against big names. I have seen the young players fumble against the likes of Alfaz or Arman but they have formed a tough defence in association with skipper Sujan," he added.
Veteran coach Gazi has used Masud Rana successfully as libero in a three-man central defence but the only worry is the lack of a backup for the ace defender.
"A tournament and a league is totally different. So we have to be steady in the long run. I believe my players will take inspiration from the two tournaments we have played this year," Gazi said.
"I can not discard Abahani or Mohammedan as contenders although they have failed at the start. They can not fail continuously. Muktijoddha have similar success like us and Sheikh Russel will also give nothing away," said Gazi assessing his oppositions.
"There will be many factors to win a League title and all must go smoothly. I believe consistency is vital and we have the team to do that," he added.