Bangladesh Premier League champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club were scheduled to leave for Kyrgyzstan in the early hours today to take part in the AFC Cup Play-off Qualifiers with a hope of advancing to the next round.

The Dhanmondi giants have been in superb form throughout the season, having won Bhutan's King's Cup, the Federation Cup and the professional league title, and they are eager continue that momentum in the qualifying round for Asia's second-tier club competition.

The new leviathans of Bangladesh football will get their first opportunity to prove their mettle outside the South Asian region when they take on Casa Benfica (Benfica de Macau) on August 13 and FC Alga Bishkek of Kyrgyzstan on August 15 in a bid to reachingthe play-off stages.

"We haven't had any preparation for

these play-offs as the players have been in action throughout the season, but we have gathered relevant information about the opposition as much as we could. I think the opposition teams are not too much strong and we have the ability to fight against them,” said Sheikh Jamal coach Joseph Afiisi adding that the absence of striker Wedson Anselme would not affect team combination.

Skipper Mamunul Islam, however, was confident of making it to the next round of the play-offs by emerging champions in Croup B.

"We are going to play in the AFC Cup for the first time with a team which has played well throughout the season. Our target is to qualify for the next round,” said Mamunul.

"Before the first match against Casa Benfia, we will get three to four days in Kyrgyzstan for recovery as well as to cope with the conditions. So I am confident that we can put up a good show," said the Bangladesh captain.