Dhaka – Hosts Chattogram Abahani Limited will play defending champions TC Sports Club of the Maldives in the opening match of the third edition of Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup Football Tournament on Saturday at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chattogram.
The match will kick-off at 7pm. On Sunday, Kolkata Mohun Bagan Club will play Young Elephants FC of Laos also at 7pm at the same venue.
Gokulam Kerala FC of India have been included in place of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football runners-up Dhaka Abahani Limited who announced to sit out the tournament citing lack of preparation.
Tournament Committee Coordinator Shakil Mahmud Chowdhury said Gokulam Kerala FC have already applied for visa.
“All the participating teams have reached Chattogram. Gokulam Kerala FC are excited to take part in the tournament. We hope they will join the tournament as soon as possible,” Shakil told UNB on Friday.
A total of eight teams — split into two groups — are participating in the prestigious international club cup competition.
BPL champions Basundhara Kings and Gokulam Kerala FC of India have been placed in Group B with Chennaiyin FC of India and Terengganu FC of Malaysia while Group A team comprises of Mohun Bagan AC of India, TC Sports of the Maldives, Young Elephants FC of Laos and hosts Chattogram Abahani Ltd.
The two semifinals will be held on October 27 and 28 while the final match is scheduled for October 30.
Earlier, State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russel unveiled the trophy in a ceremony held at the Radisson Blu here on Thursday.
The Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup, a biennial soccer event, was held twice in Chattogram in 2015 and 2017.
Chattogram Abahani Ltd emerged champions of the first edition of the tournament in 2015 beating East Bengal FC of India by 3-1 goals while TC Sports Club of the Maldives emerged champions in the second edition in 2017 beating Pocheon Citizen FC of South Korea by 4-2 goals
Chattogram Abahani Ltd organise the tournament on regular basis in memory of Sheikh Kamal, the son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Each team will get $ 10,000 as participation money while the champions will be awarded $ 50,000 and the runners-up $ 25,000.UNB
