Although Mohammedan Sporting Club high-ups claimed that they had instructed their 'football management committee' to build a youthful team for the coming Professional Football League, the frustration of finally gathering a number of mediocre players was visible in their faces.

The committee introduced their team for the B. League to the officials yesterday at the club tent where the old stars -- former club and national players Kaiser Hamid, Rumman Wali Sabbir, Sayeed Hossain Kanan who were also present -- looked brighter.

The committee itself is also high-profile, being comprised of coach Shafiqul Islam Manik, his assistants Saiful Bari Titu and Mohammed Panir, Imtiaz Sultan Jony and Jashimuddin Joshi.

Among the 23 players who will wear the famous black and white strips this year, there was only one player -Imtiaz Ahmed Nakib -- who could immediately be recognised.

But the former national striker has left his good days so far behind that he could not find a regular place in the starting eleven for the past few

years.

Midfielder Asad had stints at the national side while Belal -- famous for his long throw-ins for Muktijoddha -- is the only notable recruitment for coach Manik, who has lost the core of the side that won the National Football League for him in the previous season.

The reason Mohammedan, arguably the most popular club in the country, could not build a formidable side is that teams like Abahani and Muktijoddha started marketing long ago but club general secretary Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan stated that to have a young team was their plan.

"We had instructed our football management committee to build a young team that will serve us in the future. This is what we wanted," he said rather unconvincingly.

Vice-president Kutubuddin Ahmed said that wearing the Mohammedan colours will inspire the players. "It will not only motivate them but also bring the fire out of them to win the title," Kutub hoped.

Manik, who believes that clubs make stars and this year would be no exception, introduced his boys who all received their designated jerseys for the season.

He also mentioned that six footballers from their youth training programme will stay with the camp but would not be registered for the B. League.

The advantages, apart from the huge fan base, the black and whites would enjoy is to have started their camp much earlier than others and to complete their foreign quota already.

They have retained Nigerians Peter Odaf, Francis and Divine from last season and included two namesakes, goalkeeper Paul and striker Paul Nwakuchu who played for Muktijoddha last season.