The first phase of the TVS Bangladesh Premier League football will be concluded tomorrow when the title contenders Bashundhara Kings, Abahani Limited and Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club will play their last match of the first leg today at their respective home venue.
In fact the last round of the first phase of the league is going to be held with difficult equations for all the favourites are looking for an advantage to take to the second leg when the title race begins to intensify.
The last matches of the first leg will be very important for the frontrunners Bashundhara Kings, Sheikh Jamal, third positioned Abahani Limited and fourth placed Chittagong Abahani Limted.
Bashundhara Kings, the leaders of the point table with 25 points will play their vital encounter at their home taking on Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondhi Club, the later are in second position with five points behind to the table toppers.
If Bashundhara Kings will fail to win the match then Jamal will lift their tally to 23 and will closely follow the Kings with only two points behind.
Another strong contenders to lift the title Abahani will have easier opponents at their home ground at the Sylhet District Stadium, when they will take on Uttar Baridhara.
Abahani, the six times champions since the Professional Football League started here since 2006-2007 season, have been struggling for last few seasons losing the title to Bashundhara Kings in 2018-19 season. In a bid to regain the title Abahani are not in suitable position as they are now on third place and if Jamal will win the match against Bashundhara then in spite of winning the today’s match they (Abahani) will have to end the first phase on third position.
But it would be very tough encounter for both Kings and Jamal, if they will share points, then it would be a bit advantage for Abahani if they could beat the weaker opponents Baridhara at their home venue in Sylhet.
However, Chittagong Abahani are not also far behind to Abahani Limited (Dhaka) when they are just breathing on their neck with trailing by one point with 18 points, if Baridhara will make any upset at Sylhet Stadium, then the Port City giants will move to the third place but tomorrow they will have to win against Bangladesh Police FC, who will not be a trouble free competitors.
If we have a look at the bottom side of the point table, there are also huge competition to finish the first phase with a comfortable position and there would also be very competitive matches.
Specially, Sheikh Russel, one of the pre-league favourites among the top teams, unfortunately are in very awkward position.
Sheikh Russel once the treble winners, winning all the trophies of the domestic competitions in a season including league title, are woefully stand on 10th place among 12 teams of the league, they have no option but to win their last match tomorrow against just to lift the position a better.
