Chattogram – Terengganu Football Club of Malaysia emerged as champions in the Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup Football Tournament beating hosts Chattogram Abahani 2-1 in the final at floodlit MA Aziz Stadium here on Thursday.
Midfielder Hairiey Hakim Bin Mamat and defender Azalinullah Bin Md Alias scored a goal each for Terengganu FC while Montenegrin striker Rotkovic Luka scored the lone goal for Chattogram Abahani.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal witnessed the final as chief guest and later he distributed the trophies among the champions and runners-up teams.
State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russel, Chief Whip of the Jatiya Sangsad Shamsul Haque Chowdhury, President of Bangladesh football Federation Kazi Md Salahuddin, Chairman of Chattogram Abahani Ltd MA Latif, MP, Youth and Sports Secretary of the ruling Bangladesh Awami League Harun-ur-Rashid, chief co-ordinator of Tournament and vice president of Chattogram Abahani Ltd Tarafdar Md Ruhul Amin were also present on the occasion.
The Champion team received prize money of US$ 50,000 while the runners-up Chattogram Abahani Ltd got US$ 25,000.
Terengganu FC captain Lee Tuck, who scored six goals including two back to back hat-tricks, was adjudged player of the tournament. HaissHairiey Hakim Bin Mamat of the same team named as the player of the final while hosts Chattogram Abahani was adjudged most disciplined team to receive fair play trophy.
In the day’s final, Chattogram Abahani Ltd got several good chances but spoiled those due to poor finishing.
In a span of five minutes (9th and 13th minutes), Abahani captain-cum-midfielder Jamal Bhuiyan and striker Rotkovic Luka came close to score but failed.
Just after three minutes (16th minute), Hairiey Hakim Bin Mamat scored first for the visitors by a header from the goalmouth melee, off a corner of captain-cum-midfielder Lee Tuck (1-0).
In the 20th minute, Azalinullah Bin Md Alias widened the margin for the Malaysian club by a cool-placing shot after entering the danger zone from the left wing (2-0).
After the half time, Chattogram Abahani reduced the margin when a left footer of Rotkovic Luka kissed the net hitting the cross bar in the 48th minute (2-1).
Luka got two more chances in the 70th and 81st minutes but failed to convert any due to the strong defence by Terengganu FC defenders.
Jamal Bhuiyan and Md Rockey of Chattogram Abahani Ltd and Terengganu FC Head Coach Md Nafuzi Bin Mahammad Zain, Serhii Adrieiev got yellow cards.
The Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup, a biennial soccer event, was earlier 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 in the final while TC Sports Club of the Maldives emerged champion in the second edition in 2017 beating Pocheon Citizen FC of South Korea by 4-2 goals.
Earlier, Terengganu FC reached final eliminating traditional Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan AC by 4-2 goals in the second semifinal.
On their way to final, the Malaysian club beat Chennai City FC of India by 5-3 goals and BPL Champions Bashundhara Kings by 4-2 goals after playing a goalless draw with Sree Gokulam Kerala FC of India in group encounters.
On the other hand, Chattogram Abahani reached the final eliminating Indian Durand Cup champions Sree Gokulam Kerala FC by 3-2 goals in a thrilling first semifinal that went into extra-time after the teams were locked 2-2 at the end of 90 minutes.
The hosts reached the semifinals as the Group A champions despite losing their last group match to Kolkata Mohun AC by 1-2 goals after beating defending champions TC Sports Club of the Maldives by 4-1 goals and Young Elephants FC of Laos by 2-0 goals.
Chattogram Abahani organizing the tournament on regular basis in memory of Sheikh Kamal, the eldest son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Terengganu Football Club: Lee Tuck, Bruno Suzuki Castanheira (Hafizal Alias-91st), Zuasyraf Bin Zulkiefle, Azalinullah Bin Md Alias (Rahmat Bin Makasuf-73rd), Hairiey Hakim Bin Mamat, Dechi Marcel N’Guessan, Ilham Amirullah Bin Razali, Aqil Irfanuddin, Syafik Bin Ismail, Kamal Azizi Bin Zabri (Engku Md Nur Shakir-77th), Serhii Adrieiev.
Chattogram Abahani Limited: Md Nehal, Jamal Bhuiyan, Rotkovic Luka, Manik Hossan Mollah, Ikbol Jon, Yeasin Arafat, Riyadul Hasan Rafi, Ariful Islam (Kawsar Ali Rabbi-79th), Md Rahmat Mia (Md Rockey-42nd), Kpehi Jean Charles Didier (Sohel Rana-56th), Chinedu Matthew.UNB
