Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 1019 Fri. April 13, 2007  
   
Sports


B. League
Chittagong derby today


Port city rivals Abahani and Mohammedan will be pitted against each other in the first Chittagong derby of the B. League today with the latter favourite to win the first match of Week 7 and put pressure on the top four.

Chittagong Mohammedan, the surprise package of the 11-team competition, are still unbeaten at home and are currently fifth in the table with eight points.

The match will kick off at 3.45 pm at the MA Aziz Stadium.

In Dhaka, Mohammedan will look forward to improve their position when the struggling giants from the capital host bottom-table Rahmatganj.

Having collected just five points from as many matches, Mohammedan had a welcome rest last week. However, when Shafiqul Islam Manik's side return to the Bangabandhu National Stadium, they will start at third from bottom, an embarrassing situation the mighty club have had never experienced before.

With a score of mediocre players, the black and whites got off to a good start when they edged Arambagh in the opening round but that remains their only win as they slumped to two defeats and two draws.

Even the four Nigerians have not managed to hide the weaknesses that have been troubling the Motijheel outfit, who were lucky to win a point in their last game when they held local Mohammedan 0-0.

Rahmatganj, having conceded 11 goals in six outings, have the second weakest defence and lost their last four games. Their only point came from a goalless draw with Arambagh in the second round but the old-Dhaka club were unfortunate to lose 1-0 to Abahani, who snatched the match winner in stoppage time two weeks earlier.

Sheikh Russel are still on top with 12 points, followed by Muktijoddha and Abahani who are just one point adrift.

Abahani, who have played a match less than their title rivals, will play Farashganj on Sunday as their tomorrow's match has been rescheduled due to the Bengali New Year.

It would be an interesting clash, Farashganj not only held Abahani twice in the last Premier League but also are in good form this season having drawn with heavyweights Russel and Muktijoddha in the previous two games.

Russel have an easy draw against Khulna Abahani at home on April 17 while the round ends with the mega clash between Muktijoddha and fourth-placed Brothers on the next day.

Fixtures
April 13: Chittagong Mohammedan v Chittagong Abahani (MA Aziz Stadium)
Mohammedan v Rahmatganj (BNS)
April 15: Abahani v Farashganj (BNS)
April 17: Sheikh Russel v Khulna Abahani (BNS)
April 18: Muktijoddha v Brothers Union (BNS)