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Can lightweights outgun the heavyweights?

Sports Reporter
Since its reintroduction in 2011, the Independence Cup has become a tournament favouring the lightweights as three smaller teams have emerged champions out of the last five editions. With another Independence Cup starting today, the question is whether the lightweights can continue their surprise trend.
Despite being relegated from the Bangladesh Premier League, minnows Farashganj SC overcame the big names to win the Independence Cup in 2011 with a 5-4 penalty shootout win over Sheikh Russel in the final. Sheikh Russel and Mohammedan then emerged champions in 2013 and 2014 editions before lightweights Chittagong Abahani and Arambagh shocked the heavyweights to clinch the title in 2016 and 2018 editions respectively.
However, this time it is going to be a tough ask for the lightweights as the heavyweights are seemingly very serious following the completion of season's curtain-raising tournament Federation Cup. The coaches believe the Independence Cup will be even more competitive than the Federation Cup.
"I think there is hardly any chance for the lightweights to win the tournament this time. The big teams earlier did not use to take this tournament seriously since it was held after the completion of the professional league. But this time, the heavyweights are really serious and they have their foreign players in sound state," opined Federation Cup champions Abahani coach Jakarta Babu.
Abahani have won six Bangladesh Premier League titles and four Federation Cup titles since the introduction of the professional football league in 2008, but they are yet to win the Independence Cup despite playing in the 2016 final where they lost against Chittagong Abahani.
"The lightweights have little chance of winning the tournament but there may be some surprises in group-stage matches,” said newcomers NoFeL SC coach Kamal Babu, who guided Farashganj to the title in 2011.
"Due to the grouping, a couple of big teams will quit the race. Otherwise big teams like Abahani, Bashundhara Kings, Sheikh Jamal DC, Saif SC and Sheikh Russel are favourites to win the tournament," said Babu, who last
season guided Rahmatganj to the semifinals.
"Matches will be 50-50 in the knockout stages if any of the minnows progress to the quarterfinals and semifinals," opined Rahmatganj MFS coach Syed Colam Jilani.
"This time, five to six clubs have formed strong sides with four foreign players each and the tournament is held before the league, so there is hardly any chance for the lightweights to produce outstanding results,” said Jilani, who however believes the lightweights are now more prepared than the Federation Cup and they have the ability to trouble the stronger sides.
Holders Arambagh KS coach Maruful Haque is targeting the semifinals.
"Arambagh KS would have played the final if the tournament was held without foreigners like the previous editions but this time I am not much confident even though but we want to play in the semifinals," said country's lone UEFA A license coach Maruful, who also believes the heavyweights are more focused to do well ahead of the professional league.
In today's match, Saif SC will take on Team BJMC in the opening match at 5:00pm.