DHAKA: Sayem Sobhan Anvir, Managing Director (MD) of country’s largest industrial conglomerate Bashundhara Group (BG), has taken up the responsibility of Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra Ltd.

Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra is set to start with a new vigor in the New Year, with new zeal along with financial security and with a pledge for playgrounds.

Players of the Sheikh Russel football team have become very much delighted as soon Sayem Sobhan took over the charge.

National football striker Zahid Hassan Emily told banglanews that if a quality team and an academy can be set up then everything will be tuned.

He also hoped, “Players are supposed to get regular salary and bonus. The team is very much organized now. We are expecting a good season this year if all facilities are provided. Sheikh Russel will go a long way if Bashundhara Group continues their assistance.”

Another national player Atiqur Rahman Mishu told banglanews that the club is supposed to get new space under the new chairman. There will be residential accommodation for the players.

Earlier, the club was located at Chand Khar Pool area which will be developed soon. Players will definitely play the next games with fresh zeal.

Masud Rana, the goal keeper of Sheikh Russel for the last two years, told banglanews that permanent playground and coaching are very important for a team.

Beforehand we used to reside in a rented house and practiced in the rented BUET ground. Now, we will have own permanent ground and own permanent accommodation which will be helpful for performance in the field.

Masud told the media that we got a balanced team through the player transfer of the current year. The club got seven national players and six to seven more players who have the capabilities of being national players.

Moreover, qualities of the foreign players are also very good.

Hemanta Vincent has come from Mohammedan Sporting Club. He told banglanews that six players from Mohammedan have joined Sheikh Russel this year.

He further said that the academy, earlier pledged by the new chairman, will bring the club at international standard and in that case Sheikh Russel will set an example.

Sheikh Russel KC was unfolded in 1995 and meanwhile the club has won titles of first division, premier league and professional competitions. But during the last twenty years, the club did not get own playground or club tent.

Moreover, they had to set camps at rented houses. From that position Sayem Sobhan is going to establish the club to a new permanent address.

The Montenegrin coach of the team, Dragan Djukanovic said that they will try to be the league champion of current year.

‘We have formed a strong team. We will play in a way that will help the development of Bangladesh football’, he added.

Sheikh Russel team is now looking forward to our AFC qualifying playoff in February 10 against a Tajikistan club of central Asia.

Though that team is very strong, Djukanovic, coach of Sheikh Russel, hoped that the match will be very much competitive.

There are play-off matches of AFC, Federation Cup and Premier League and we will be champion in the matches.

In a press conference held on Friday evening (January 9) at Westin Hotel, the chairman of Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra Ltd, Sayem Sobhan, told the media, we have come here to be the champion. World class football will begin from now on. We want to take challenge. Development of our football will be beginning from here, he added.

BDST: 1616 HRS, JAN 10, 2015