Mohammedan celebrate coronation in style

With the players and officials wearing special jerseys with the word 'champions' emblazoned alongside the years that the Black and Whites won the top-tier league titles in its 89-year journey, the crowd-pulling Mohammedan Sporting Club celebrated with their first Bangladesh Premier League trophy following a 3-3 draw in a trilling penultimate match in Cumilla on Friday.

The fading light of the sun at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium turned the faces of the players and officials glow brighter as the Black and Whites ended a 23-year-wait for the top-tier title, winning their first ever league title in the professional era.

Although Mohammedan had confirmed the title with three games in hand, Friday's penultimate fixture was earmarked for handing over of the trophy to the Black and Whites, who were playing at their home venue for the last time this season. League committee chairman and BFF's senior vice-president Imrul Hasan handed over the trophy and medals to the joyous players and officials.

The celebration of the Motijheel-based outfit assumed more colour when the foreign players from Mali, Nigeria, Uzbekistan, Venezuela and Burkina Faso hung their respective national flags around their shoulders while Mohammedan ultras, a fan group of the club, made the moment more vibrant with smoke flares in the gallery, letting the players soak in the adoration of the fans.

Prior to the start of the match, Brothers Union players gave a 'guard of honour' to the Mohammedan players as well as their goalkeeper Ashraful Islam Rana, who called time on his 11-year top-tier career with the match against the club where he had started his top-tier journey.

Former national goalkeeper Rana played the first half before coming out and was greeted with garlands and crests by officials of Brothers, Mohammedan, Abahani, BFF, Cumilla DFA and many others.

Goalkeeper Ashraful Islam Rana being given a guard of honour by Brothers Union players. Photo: BFF

However, the environment was totally different on the pitch as Brothers gave a tough time to their old rivals with a seventh-minute lead, with Mouhamed Becaye Diarra heading home a Jamal Bhuiyan chip from close range.

Mohammedan reorganised and hit back in the 25th minute with a powerful header from defender Mehedi Hasan and then captain Soleymane Diabate nodded a Muzaffar Muzaffarjon corner home in 38th minute. It was Diabate, who made it 3-1 in the 69th minute with a volley from inside the box. However, Mfon Udoh and Jewel Rana netted in the 71st and 88th minutes to force Mohammedan to settle for a 3-3 draw.

In the day's other match, Young Men's Fakirerpool Club confined Dhaka Wanderers to relegation with a 2-1 win, in the process themselves avoiding the drop.