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Jinx, Abahani in way of Kings' coronation

Anisur Rahman
Newcomers Bashundhara Kings will be dreaming of
becoming the first side to be crowned on their debut appearance in topflight football in today's Federation Cup final but standing in the bigspenders' way is the imposing figure of giants Abahani.
The match will get underway at the Bangabandhu National Stadium today from 4:30pm with Channel 9 telecasting live from the venue.
Since the introduction of the professional football league in 2008, Sheikh Jamal and Team BJMC were the only teams who stunned all and sundry to reach the final of the season's curtain-raising tournament on their debut appearances in 2010 and 2011 respectively. However, Sheikh Jamal's run was upended by Abahani in the final while Team BJMC were denied by Sheikh Jamal.
Bashundhara Kings, the third team to reach the Federation Cup final in their debut season, now find 10-time champions Abahani in their way.
The Dhanmondi-based outfit will be looking to clinch their sec-
ond hattrick of Federation Cup titles since their triumphs from 1997-2000. However, an even bigger motivation is that a win would see the Sky Blues surpass archrivals Mohammedan's haul of 10 titles and give them sole supremacy.
On the pitch, the sides are evenly matched in terms of performances as well as on paper. Both finalists showed character in the group stage and knockout matches and have similar
strengths up front and similar problems in defence Bashundhara Kings have hit 13 goals and conceded five in five matches while Abahani have scored eight goals and conceded five in four matches. Even their top-scorers, Daniel Colindres and Sunday Chizoba, are tied on four goals apiece
However, the popular Abahani are ahead of Bashundhara in one aspect - they have been in the tournament's final 18 times, winning on
ten occasions, and have players who are experienced on the biggest stage and have winning pedigree.
Although Abahani coach Jakarta Babu and Bashundara Kings assistant coach Abu Faisal Ahmed have both tipped their respective sides as favourites in today's final, the match can go either way.
'We are ready for the final. We are hopeful of becoming champions by maintaining our consistent performance in the final,' said Abahani coach Jakarta Babu. 'We are simply taking Bashundhara Kings as just another opponent and will play our own game rather than thinking of their any player like Colindres.'
'Our target is to be champions. We have been trying to display' good football from the group-stage matches. We want to be champions in our maiden appearance by beatinggiants Abahani,” said Faisal, whose side will be bolstered by the return of Kyrgyzstan midfielder BakhtiyarDuyshobekov.
Another thing that has added extra colour to the Federation Cup final is that the champions will represent Bangladesh in the upcoming AFC Cup and both sides are seemingly desperate to win the final to realise two objectives.