Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Limited

malities of player registration, signing 20 booters with three foreign players, on the opening day of the transfer bourse yesterday. The young contingent, led by their skipper Aminul Haque and club officials, were subject to questions regarding their lack of strength this season after most of their star players left for other tents even before the start of the bourse. Last season Sheikh Jamal were the newcomers and assembled 16 national team players and all they can show for it was a tainted league title. This time though, they have a very young side, as most of the stalwarts have left for either Abahani or Muktijoddha Sangsad. Zahid Hossain, Wali Faisal, Nasirul Islam, Mohammad Sujan, Enamul Haque and Shahedul Alam have left for Abahani while Zahid Hasan Emily, Rezaul Karim, Shakil Ahmed and Mamunul Islam left for Muktijoddha. Of the twenty players registered, only three represent the national side while the rest are mostly young and fringe players. Among the new recruits, young striker Sohel Rana from Farashganj, Brothers' Brazilian striker Everton Souza and defender Yusuf Ali seem to be the best buys. Needless to say, these buys suffer in comparison to the stars that they lost. Anwarul Karim Helal, manager of the club said they were hopeful of retaining the title despite forming a young side. “We think we have a team that can become champions. It's a balanced side in which there is a blend of youth and experience.”

Sheikh Jamal officials said they will decide on the rest of the foreign recruits only after the decision is made by the league committee on how many foreigners can be registered. The transfer window will stay open till November 30 for the local players and December 15 for the foreign players. Apart from the strengths and weaknesses issues, another thing that resurfaced before the commencement of the transfer window was Sheikh Jamal's involvement in the 'compromise-match' against Rahmatganj MFS last season that paved their way to the title. The Dhanmondi club are yet to pay the Tk 20 Lac fine imposed on them by the league committee after an investigation into the affair. The issue was rekindled after the recent submission of match-fixing claims by the Rahmatganj goalkeeper Iran Sheikh on a television channel on Friday night. Enayet Kabir Chanchal, director of the club, however warded off the question of match-fixing by saying:

“Allegations are one thing, proof is another. No one can convict us without any concrete proof.” Well, if Iran's submission wasn't proof enough, then what could be? Chanchal's complementary question was: “Would you believe the man's statement that he gave to a TV channel or would you believe what he said before the league committee and taking oath on Holy Quran?”

Three months after the verdict, Sheikh Jamal are yet to pay the Tk 20 lac fine imposed on them for their involvement in the 11 June, 2010 affair. Chanchal said even though they don't admit of involvement in the match-fixing scam, they might pay the fine and take to the field for the greater interest of the game.

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