A 32-member Bangladesh Premier Football League (BPL) outfit Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra will fly for Tajikistan today to take part in their first play-off stage matches for the 2015-16 AFC Cup.
Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra will leave Dhaka from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport within 7.10 am through a Turkish Airlines Flight 703. Golam Rabbani Helal, as deputy team leader and team manager Sheikh Zahidur Rahman are also included in the tourist group.
Sheikh Russel are scheduled to play their first play-off match against Tajikistan Premier Division tough side FC Khayr on February 10. Bangladesh Premier Football League outfit will face their second play-off match against Lebanese Cup champions Salam Zgharta on February 17.
If Sheikh Russel triumph over both of their opponents, they will reach the group-stage competition of the 2015-16 edition of the AFC Cup.
The draw of Asia’s topmost club competition was held at the headquarters of Asian Football Confederation in Kuala Lumpur where Sheikh Russel KC were decided to face a competitive FC Khayr from Tajikistan.
Earlier, legendary sports patron and Managing Director of Bashundhara Group Sayem Sobhan Anvir officially took over the Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra, as the chairman during a press meet in a lavish dinner party at Westin Hotel Dhaka in early January.
New chairman of Sheikh Russel Krira considered the upcoming AFC Cup as challenge. Besides Sayem Sobhan Anvir took over the challenge and taken up the responsibility of Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra Ltd. to regain the no 1 spot in Bangladesh Premier League.
Sheikh Russel KC marked their name in the history books as the first Bangladeshi club to earn a second-round slot in the AFC PresidentÂ’s Cup last year.
Sheikh Russel KC was unfolded in 1995 and meanwhile the club has won titles of first division, premier league and professional competitions. Russel finished with sixth spot among 10 teams in the Bangladesh Premier Football League last year.
Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra wrapped up their player registration formalities in a festive atmosphere at the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) conference room recently.
The key feature of RusselÂ’s player registration formalities was purchasing countryÂ’s numerous quality footballers from various prominent football clubs across the country including nine national footballers for the upcoming season. Six players from Mohammedan Sporting Club joined Sheikh Russel this year.
Last year Sheikh Russel assigned Montenegrin Dragan Dukanovic as their head coach as the first overseas coach of Bangladesh Premier League champions in 2013-14 season.