Dhaka – Saif Sporting Club made a good start in the 13-team Independence Cup Football Tournament beating Team BJMC 1-0 in the opening match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium here on Saturday.Reliable national booter Jamal Bhuiyan scored the match-winner for Saif SC in the in the 86th minute from a free-kick (1-0)
Dhaka Abahani Limited, which earned a 2nd hat-trick of championships in the Federation Cup Football recently, will start their campaign taking on Muktijoddha Sangsad KC in the Group C opener on Sunday (Dec 2) at 3pm at the same venue.
Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club will play newcomers Bashundhara Kings in a Group D opener, also on Sunday at 5:15 pm at the same venue.
Thirteen teams, split into four groups, are initially taking part in the meet with three semifinalists of the just concluded Federation Cup Bashundhara Kings, Sheikh Jamal DC and Sheikh Russel KC put together in Group D, the D seemingly standing for death.
Groupings are:
Group A – Saif Sporting Club, Arambagh KS and Team BJMC GroupB – Chattogram Abahani, Dhaka Mohammedan SC, Rahmatganj MFS and Nofel SC Group C – Dhaka Abahani, Brothers Union and Muktijoddha Sangasd KC Group D Sheikh Jamal DC, Sheikh Russel KC and Bashundhara Kings.
On completion of Group matches on December 9, two top teams from each of the groups will play in the quarterfinals on December 11-14, all at 4:30 pm.
The semifinal matches are scheduled for December 19-20 while the final will be held on December 24, also at 4:30 pm.
The remaining fixture of group matches:
Dec 3 – Chattogram AbahanivsNofel Sporting (3pm)
Dhaka MohammedanvsRahmatganj MFS (5:15pm)
Dec 4 -Team BJMCvsArambagh KS (5pm)
Dec 5 -Muktijoddha SangsadvsBrothers Union (3pm)
Bashundahra Kings vsSheikh Russel KC (5:15pm)
Dec 06Rahmatganj MFS vsChattogram Abahani (3pm)
Dhaka MohammedanvsNofel SC (5:15pm)
Dec 07Arambagh KSvsSaif SC(5:pm)
Dec 08Sheikh Russel KCvsSheikh Jamal DC (3pm)
Brothers Unionvs Dhaka Abahani(5:15 pm)
Dec 09Rahmatganj MFSvs Nofel SC(3pm)
Dhaka Mohammedan vsChattogramAbahani (5:15 pm),UNB
