Dhaka – Defending champion Dhaka Abahani Limited will play new face Chittagong Abahani Limited in the final match of the Walton 29th Federation Cup Football at Bangabandhu National Stadium here on Tuesday.The title deciding match of the 12-team season curtain raiser meet between Senior Abahani and Junior Abahani will kick-off at 7:30 pm.The popular sky-yellow Dhanmondi outfit Dhaka Abahani look forward to their 10th Federation Cup crown while the port city team Chittagong Abahani for their maiden title. Ahead of the final battle, the Croatian coach of Dhaka Abahani Drago Mamic said, “They are a strong team, they have some quality players, they will try to give the maximum to win the title though it would be very hard battle.”
Counterpart of Mamic Saiful and Chittagong Abahani coach Saiful Bari Titu showed his respect to his opponents saying, “Dhaka Abahani is one of the best team in the country, they have completed the AFC Cup campaign after playing against a good number of strong clubs, they have settled side and they are also in a good form”Titu said that his team is yet to produce their best though they are in the final. “We have failed to dictate the tempo in the previous matches, I am concerned over it, I am talking to the players about the all-out teamwork,” he said.”We want to win the title by playing a good brand of football, although we will miss our number one goalkeeper Ashraful Islam Rana, who is now unfit” Titu added.Mamic and Titu disclosed these at a pre-match conference at BFF House in the capital Monday afternoon. BFF Sr vice president Abdus Salam Murshedy was also present.Dhaka Abahani Limited reached final with unbeaten record beating Sheikh Jamal DC 1-0 in the semifinal, defeated Brothers Union 2-1 in the quarterfinal. They played to 1-1 draw with new comer Saif SC and beat Muktijoddha Sangsad KC 1-0 in group encounters.Chittagong Abahani booked a seat for the final beating Rahmatganj MFS 1-0 and Sheikh Russel KC 4-2 in tie breaker after 1-1 draw in the stipulated time of quarter final. They beat Mohammedan SC 2-1 and Arambagh KS also by 2-1 goals in the group matches.
