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Fed Cup finals from today

Sports Reporter
The local football season begins in earnest today as
the final round of the Grameenphone Federation Cup kicks off at two separate venues with no clear favourites among the 16 participating teams.
A star-studded Muktijoddha Sangsad will take on Cox's City FC at the Birshreshtha Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur while fallen giants Mohammedan SC will face newcomers Team BJMC at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
Apart from Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, who started their training camp in September, all the title contenders and the minnows have been gearing up for the last six weeks and the coaches of the respective sides are happy with the time they got to prepare their sides.
They believe their charges are mentally and physically prepared to take the challenge and push their opponents hard on the field.
But, one thing everyone admitted is that winning the Federation Cup would not be an easy task as Abahani, Muktijoddha Sangsad, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russel KC are very close in terms of strength on paper.
Mohammedan, newcomers Team BJMC and Brothers Union may spring a few surprises as Mohammedan and Brothers Union are inspired by the arrival of Nigerian coach Emeka and Indian coach Syed Naimuddin respectively while Team BJMC formed a squad which features experienced players like Alfaz Ahmed, Abul Hossain and Abdullah Parvez.
With a lack of practice matches before the tournament, the title contenders will be looking forward to making their right combination play-
ing in the group-stage matches.
“Finishing second best is not an option for us as we have no alternative but to defend the title,” said Abahani manager Satyajit Das Rupu adding that this time Abahani have a better squad compared to last season.
Abahani will rely on long-serving Ghanaian recruits Awudu Ibrahim, Twum Frank, Aminu, Samad Yousuf and new Nigerian recruit Lucky Paul while the inclusion of defenders Wali Faisal, Mohammad Sujan, Nasirul Islam, striker Enamul Haque and winger Zahid Hossian will sharpen their attack.
Last year's Bangladesh League champions Sheikh Jamal lost much of their strength as 10 national players left for other clubs, but new coach Saiful Bari Titu is optimistic about delivering something good in the tournament.
“The strength of Sheikh Jamal has surely decreased this year but those who filled up the vacant positions do have the capacity to do well. With national players like Meshu, Komol, Yousuf, Sabuj and Raju in the side, I believe we will not be performing badly,” said Titu adding he expects to reach the final of the tournament like the last season.
However, the strongest side on paper Muktijoddha Sangsad have a real cause for concern as they have three of their star players — striking duo Zahid Hasan
Emily and Mithun Chowhdury and new recruit Sunday Chizoba — suspended. Emily and Mithun were served five match bans while Sunday got a two match ban following different incidents of indiscipline last season.
“It is not possible to make up for the losses of the three players but I think their substitutes can perform the job efficiently. Any coach can expect to win the title with the players that Muktijoddha have,” said a confident coach Shafiqul Islam Manik.
Manik may also miss the services of two new Brazilian recruits Lima and Rafael in the first match as their international transfer certificates have not yet arrived till yesterday.
With a youth-based and mediocre strength side, Mohammedan team management are taking this tournament as a trial for the professional league, and are hoping that their former player-turned-coach Emeka can inspire the youngsters to somethinggood.