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PREMIER LEAGUE

Team watch: Russel KC

Football

SPORTS REPORTER
Many a newcomer have pulled off upsets on their arrival in the top flight of domestic football, but none had made a lasting impression like Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra did.
Having crossed the barriers of Division Three, Two and One in successive years, the Russel boys finished runners-up on their premiership debut last season. More than that the youthful footballers of Sheikh Russel earned the enviable tag as the best entertaining side under coach Wajed Gazi.
True that Gazi has switched to Brothers Union, who won the Premier League title last year finishing just one point above Russel, but the new boys are desperate to prove that their success last year was not a flash in the pan.
This year the Blues might have an almost entirely new look side with only three players -- goalkeepers Apel and Biplab and forward Bulbul -- surviving from the previous season, but with Abu Yusuf, who is considered as the most innovative coach, taking over from Gazi, Russel have already promised yet another exciting season despite enjoying mixed bags in the three warm-up tournaments ahead of the League.
The only thing they are missing is the cutting edge when it mattered most but Yusuf believes that the success of his team will depend on how quickly his inexperienced local boys gel as a unit with his four Moroccans including star striker Younis. "We have picked young players who will give long service to the team. It is a team for the future," told Yusuf yesterday.
"I do not believe in result oriented success. This is the face of our football now but to me, the standard of the game is more important. We are on a different type of mission this time, 'bring spectators to the ground'. We want to create a fan base for us," said the former national defender who is known for his straight talking.
"Now the clubs have forgotten the beauty of the game and put pressure to get the championship at any cost. The big teams get involved in fixed-matches and the smaller clubs form syndicate for survival. I have even seen the champions of a tournament not even celebrating after winning a final this year," Yusuf complained.
Yusuf feels that his boys fought bravely against the local giants in the three tournaments before eventually giving up.
They lost 3-4 to Mohammedan and 1-2 to Muktijoddha in the Independence Day Gold Cup and drew with both Muktijoddha and Brothers in the Federation Cup before losing the Independence Day final in Rajshahi 2-0 to Abahani in extra-period.
"Yes, we have lost close matches but you have to lose or win in a tournament. But a League is different where you will have to go through a lot of patches and I think those tournaments have been very good preparation for us," said Yusuf, who also has coached the national team.
"I am satisfied with the boys so far and they have proved that they will be in the championship race if they can be at their best in the long run. In Rajshahi, over 40,000 people witnessed our match against Abahani and 90 per cent supported us for our lively brand of football," the proud coach said.
Russel also went for Moroccan players this time but totally new faces. Yusuf said that they have confirmed Egir Mohammed -- who has been captaining the side -and Rachid but hardly had the time to judge newcomer Adil.
"The local forwards I have are not reliable. So, we will need both the Moroccans. I also need a good foreign defender because my present backline lacks maturity. My midfield has delivered what I needed. So, we will have to be careful about picking the third one," said Yusuf, who has mostly used the 5-3-2 form.
But he said he is flexible and strategies would be drawn according to the oppositions.
"Muktijoddha can even field a second team which is their main strength. Brothers have a good team as well but I think they have not performed up to the expectation. Abahani, though young, look impressive, positive and well organised. Mohammedan have a good set of players but their management lacks co-ordination.
"We expect challenge from all of them but I'll never compromise with positive football whoever we are playing against."
SQUAD
Biplab, Apel (goalkeepers), Aminul, Deen Mohammed, Jet, Jahirul, Pradeep, Mishu (defenders), Sharif, Tanveer, Maruf, Hanif, Anwar, Nayan (midfielders), Bulbul, Yusuf, Egir, Rachid (forwards).