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Real battle starts today

Sports Reporter
The season's curtain-raising tournament, the Citycell Federation Cup, kicks off today with defending B. League champions Abahani taking on Jatrabari Krira Chakra in the opening match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
The match begins at 5pm after Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) president Kazi Salahuddin, along with Citycell CEO Michael Seymour, declares the tournament open. The other match on the opening day sees a Chittagong derby when the port city's Abahani take on Mohammedan in the 7pm kick-offgame.
After a 12-team qualifying round that ended four days ago, sixteen clubs are now split into four groups from which two each will play the quarterfinals from August 22.
Looking at the four groups, Abahani seem to have got the short stick as they drew two other B. League teams -- Chittagong Abahani and Mohammedan -- in
Group B.
But Abahani's long-serving coach Amolesh Sen has his eyes fixed firmly on the trophy despite injury concerns over Abul Hossain and Zahed Parvez.
"We must go for the title and if we achieve the target, it will help us a lot in the upcoming B. League," said the veteran Sen.
The Sky Blues have almost retained the same combination that won the inaugural B. League, and the coach believed that it was an extra advantage for his side compared to others. However, the former national footballer doesn't want to pinpoint any team as favourites in the tournament.
With the new powerhouse
Sheikh Russel, with their trustworthy Moroccan trio, being one of the contenders, the title race is indeed wide open. Even though, Abahani, Mohammedan Sporting Club and holders Brothers Union are the firm favourites for finals day.
Muktijoddha Sangsad, who lost most of their potency due to a committee row and completed the players' registration only on the last day of transfers, still have the ability to spring a surprise with the players at their disposal.
Group A also contains three B. League teams including Muktijoddha, Farashganj and Khulna Abahani while Dhaka Wanderers made it through the qualifiers into the Federation Cup proper this time.
Brothers and Sheikh Russel have a much easier task from Group C and it is expected that they would stroll into the quarterfinals without much trouble as the other two teams in their group are Victoria Sporting Club and BKSP, much like Mohammedan and Arambagh from Group D.
Mohammedan coach Maruful Haq reminded that they would also go for the trophy but wants to build on some success and carry it into the main event of the footballing
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