Extreme heat and humidity will put the booters to the test as the title race for the inaugural professional football league gets intense from 12th week of the competition.

With just three points separating the top five, it would be anybody's game in the tightest chase ever seen in domestic football and leaders Mohammedan's one-point lead would hardly give any comfort to Shafiqul Islam Manik.

Six wins in a row not only buried a wretched start for Mohammedan but also put Manik's boys above big-budgeted sides like Abahani, Sheikh Russel and Muktijoddha who are still breathing on the black and whites' neck.

Chittagong Mohammedan's lovely brand of football, however, made them the most impressive side as well as a contender. The port city team, ably guided by Nazrul Islam Ledu, have already proved their worth by not losing to big names at home and toppling defending two-time Dhaka Premier League champions Brothers in the table.

Brothers are sixth but not far by means of points and still can fight back under wily Indian coach Syed Nayeemuddin, especially after showing signs of improvement in the latter part of the first leg.

The key would be getting the side stronger and Brothers will get back midfielder Liton, whose ban was lifted by the federation during the two-week mid-season transfer period, which ended last night.

The Oranges are also trying to bring back Ghanaian forward Enock Bentil, who left in the middle of the campaign due to injury. Manager Amer Khan informed that Enock is expected to join the side before their second match on June 10.

Muktijoddha, who host Chittagong Mohammedan at the Bangabandhu National Stadium today with revenge on mind following their first leg defeat in Chittagong, confirmed that national number one custodian Aminul will not be available for the rest of the season.

They included a junior goalkeeper, Nur Alam, as cover and Cameroon-born Kum, who leaves in Dhaka with his father and has been training with the Reds for a long time. They have also loaned midfielder Jony from Chittagong Abahani.

Russel, who faced Mohammedan in the big match this week, have replaced Mohamed Khoubbache with two more of his Moroccan compatriots, Nuruddin Zaim and Rida Saadane, for the rest of the league. The second-placed side will not have the services of Amin Rana, who has been suffering from jaundice and hence excluded from the squad.

Abahani, in a vulnerable position last night, finally confirmed five foreign imports in their roster including Khoubbache just before the deadline.

The sky-blues, who released two Argentines, gave up waiting on their old players Ndem and Marshall and Jeremiah, who played for Muktijoddha two seasons back on Cameroon and Ghana. The trio reportedly completed all preparations to arrive in Dhaka but failed to show up in time.

Abahani's two new signings are Cameroonian Soleiman Nchohaut, the yellow-orange haired who has trained with the side for two days and last-minute arrival Obi Michael John, namesake of Chelsea's Nigerian super-star. The striker arrived in the capital last night from Vietnam.

Abahani, who wrested the responsibilities of coaching on old-horse Amalesh Sen after letting go Argentine coach Diego Cruciani, retained Ghanaian forward Awdud Ibrahim.

Manager Satyajit Das Rupu told that Argentine defender Mariano Caporale has ensured his return after taking care of some family affairs in Buenos Aires.

Lower half sides Rahmatganj, Chittagong Abahani, Farashganj and Arambagh all have already included new faces.

12TH WEEK FIXTURES
May 30: Muktijoddha v Chittagong Mohammedan (BNS)
June 1: Brothers v Farashganj (BNS); Khulna Abahani v Chittagong Abahani (Khulna Stadium)
June 2: Arambagh v Rahmatganj (BNS)
June 3: Russel v Mohammedan