Former champions Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra Ltd made a winning start in the ongoing 16th season of ABG Bashundhara Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2023-24 as they beat Lt Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Ltd by 2-1 goals in their opening match at the Bashundhara Kings Arena on Saturday. 

Burundian forward Selemani Landry Ndikumana opened account in the 5th minute and Nigerian defender Ganiu Atanda Ogungbe doubled the margin the 49th minute for Sheikh Russel while Uzbek defender Shokhrukhbek Kholmatov reduced the gap in the 58th minute for Sheikh Jamal. 

Also, the exciting match saw conceding two straight red cards – Sheikh Jamal local defender Md Mahamudul Hasan Kiron and Sheikh Russel head coach North Macedonia head coach Jugoslav Trenchovski. 

Sheikh Russel, who ended the last edition of BPL at fifth with 30 points, made a disappointing start in this season as they were eliminated from the group stage of the season's curtain raiser Independence Cup 2023 after losing to Dhaka Abahani Ltd by 0-2 goals. 

In contrast, Sheikh Jamal, who were sixth in the last BPL with 24 points, were more successful as they qualified for the quarterfinals though they were also knocked down by Dhaka Abahani 2-3 goals in an exciting tie-breaker as their game was tied at 1-1 in the 120-minute. 

However, Russel rejuvenated under Trenchovski and made a good comeback with their home match of the BPL on this day. 

The hosts took control of the game when Landry struck an early goal while forward Suman Reza delivered him the ball inside the box utilizing a long pass from Japanese midfielder Kodai Iida within the five minutes of the beginning.   

Sheikh Jamal tried hard to recover the match but their forward line failed to break Sheikh Russel’s defense inside the box, the credit also went to Russel goalkeeper-captain Mitul Marma who made no mistake inside the box until end of the first half. 

In the meantime, Jamal got another blow when their defender Kiron conceded a straight red card due to illegally fouled Russell forward Sarowar Jaman Nipu just a few seconds before the half-time in the 45+3rd minute. 

Russel sealed the fate of the game while Nigerian defender Ganiu doubled the margin with a header off a corner from Japanese midfielder Kodai within just four minutes of the second half.

The 10-man Jamal started to put pressure on Russel and within ten minutes Uzbek defender Kholmatov struck a goal with a powerful left-footed shot when midfielder Atiqur Rahman Fahad sent him the ball inside the box utilizing a header from substitute defender Joynal Abedin Dipu. 

But this goal had no use except to reduce the gap of the margin as Sheikh Russel successfully maintained their lead until the final whistle. 

However, the hosts got a blow when their head coach Trenchovski conceded a red card due to his breaching code of conduct in the dugout just three minutes before the final whistle. 

That means, Trenchovski will not be able to present in dugout in Sheikh Russel’s next match of the second round against Mohammedan Sporting Club, scheduled to be held on December 29 at the Rafiq Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh.  

Meanwhile, Ganiu adjudged the Man of the match and former football star Kaisar Hamid handed over the trophy to him after the match.

BDST: 2018 HRS, DEC 23, 2023
MN