Rivalry resumes without fanfare

Where once excitement reached a fever pitch, there is hardly any anticipation now ahead of today's Bangladesh Premier League encounter between traditional rivals Abahani and Mohammedan SC -- the first of the season between the once bitter foes.

There was a time when the perennial rivals facing off would produce full-house crowds with passions reaching dangerous levels, but today at the Bangabandhu National Stadium the difference in strength between the two sides and their divergent recent results mean that fervour will be missing. 

It is Abahani who has forged ahead, winning four professional football league titles out of eight while Mohammedan have not even managed one. The ongoing league is similarly skewed in Abahani's favour, the Sky Blues having won three and drawn three while Mohammedan remain winless after six matches, losing one and drawing five.

But even if the public have become disenchanted by the limpness of a once raging rivalry, an Abahani-Mohammedan match is still precious to the combatants; Mohammedan seems to have punched above their weight in the league, trading four wins for five losses and drawing eight against their more successful rivals.

“Although we are a weaker side compared to last season's squad, we have taken our own preparation as the match between Mohammedan and Abahani is something different,” said Mohammedan coach Josimuddin Joshi.

“We are ready to face Mohammedan and we want to stay ahead of them by securing the full three points tomorrow [Wednesday],” said Abahani coach George Kottan.