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Gap worries giants

Abahani-Mohammedan match today

Sports Reporter
Top-of-the-table Aba-hani will find it hard to maintain their winning
worries both the coaches who promised to go at each other's throats for victory' at a pre-match press conference at the BFF Bhaban yesterday.
Amalesh Sen's league
leaders have 15 points after six games while Maruful Haque's Mohammedan, who have played a match less, are at fourth place with 11 points.
Although Mohammedan's
run in the B League when the defending champions take on archrivals Mohammedan today.
The crucial match between the two genuine title contenders, which resumes the competition after a two-week break, will kick off at 4.30 pm at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
However, there would be no current form for either of the Dhaka giants as Abahani -• who won five matches in a row after starting the league with a shocking win against Rahmatganj -- would be playing their first match in three weeks while the Black and Whites their first in 20 days.
The long gap. the league was halted for the national team's tour to Myanmar,
2008 record is enviable, they have lifted the Federation Cup beating Abahani on penalties and haven't lost a single match this season, the fact that they have not beaten Abahani other than tiebreakers since 2004 is a spot of agony.
But Maruf says that he does not dwell in the past.
"It's a new match for me. In fact every match is new and what we did in the last match docs not matter. We are well prepared for this match although I am worried about the gap," said Mohammedan coach Maruf.
Mohammedan crossed a major hurdle when they edged Sheikh Russel 2-1 in their last encounter but Maruf believes that that form would not count.
"Every time we came after a long gap, we have taken time to pick up the tempo. My team's main strength is speed and it is difficult to tell now whether we would be able to
start on the same foot tomorrow.
"Ifwe find the rhythm early, we will play good football because we have trained well for the past few days," said Maruf, who is likely to miss Hassan Al Mamun despite the fullback's joining training after an injury.
When asked about the Sky-Blues' weaknesses he would want to exploit, Maruf said it would not be wise to reveal his plans.
"I'd rather say that Abahani are a very tidy unit because the same set of players have played more than 50 matches together. This is a plus point no other team have in the league."
Mohammedan captain Jewel Rana, who appeared for the last few minutes of their game against Russel after returning to the field from a long injury lay-off. is not a sure starter but said he was pre-
pared to compete in the adrenalin-pumping mega clash.
"Whether I am in the eleven or not would be a team decision. But I think it would be as exciting as ever for a player or the fans," the exnational defender said.
Like Maruf, veteran coach Amalesh also says he was bothered by the long gaps but it would be same for both teams.
"Half of my team was with the national team. It's been a little difficult to bring them in harmony. But I have this set together for more than two years and I hope they would cope with the match situation quickly," said the experienced coach and former national midfielder.
He also ruled out chances of including Joy and Ujjal, the two midfielders who have joined camp after personal activities.
"Ujjal will take some time
to get back in shape and Joy, who returned two days ago after his election campaign, is also not fully ready for tomorrow's match," added Amalesh.
Abahani captain Nazrul, who has been used as a makeshift rightback to make way for inform centre-backs Sujan and Ghanaian Samad Yussif, said that their advantage is to hold on to the same players that won the inaugural B. League for the Sky-Blues.
"The experience is there and we are more organised than any other team," Nazrul told.
In the end, the coaches will have to rely on their firepower on the field and the battle would be between Mohammedan's strike pair Alamu Bukola of Nigeria and Hedaytullah Robin who shares eight goals evenly between them.
For Abahani, four-goal Emily and Nigerian midfielder Emeka, with three goals, hold the key.