"We are well aware that the expectations around our club are huge. It is not a secret that an important goal of the club is to become the best club at the region."

— Bashundhara Kings coach Oscar Bruzon

Having strengthened their foothold in the domestic circuit by winning a third consecutive Bangladesh Premier League title, Bashundhara Kings are setting their sights on becoming the best club in South Asia.

Under the guidance of Oscar Bruzon, Bashundhara Kings have won six out of trophies they competed for since their debut in top-flight football in 2018-19 season, but they are yet to taste success in the international arena.

They've exited from the group stages of the AFC Cup twice after their maiden appearance was cancelled due to the pandemic.

The 45-year-coach believes the club is in the right direction in their target of becoming the best club in the South Asian zone.    

"The journey has been positive so far at the international competitions [AFC Cup] too as we have finished runners-up two times in the South Asian group, where champions of important leagues participate. We have lost just one game in three participations. We are well aware that the expectations around our club are huge. It is not a secret that an important goal of the club is to become the best club at the region," Bruzon told The Daily Star yesterday.

The club made a flying start in their debut appearance in AFC Cup by inflicting a massive 5-1 defeat on Maldives' TC Sports Club before the edition was cancelled due to the pandemic. In the two subsequent seasons, Kings finished behind eventual group champions ATK Mohun Bagan, falling behind on goal difference despite having equal six points the last time around.  

Analysts say that the difference between the local players of Bangladesh and India is what makes the difference in the end at this stage. Bruzon, however, wants to keep faith in their own process to get success.

"We truly trust the process; good things take time, but the tendency of the team is positive. We follow our own path which is done with careful, distinct and solid steps," Bruzon said. "There are multiple areas of improvement at different levels, both internal and external. In our case, as coaches we work consciously towards improving those aspects we can control being very close to each and all of our players."

The club's technical director, BA Jubair Input, confirmed that they are going to recruit three new foreign players to replace Gambian forward Noha Morang, Brazilian midfielder Miguel Figueira and Iranian defender Khaled Shafiei for next season afte extending contract with inspirational Brazilian forward Robson Robinho by two more years.

Though Bruzon is willing to discuss about the new transfers after the completion of the ongoing league, there are whispers the club is trying to rope in Abahani's Brazilian forward Dorielton Gomes and Saif SC's Uzbek midfielder Asror Gafurov alongside a top-quality foreign defender.

It has also been learnt that Bashundhara Kings want to sign up a local centre-back, the position they suffered mostly during this season  following a knee injury to top local centre-back Tapu Barman.