Dhaka Abahani Limited clinched the Marcel Club Cup Hockey crown after eight years defeating old Dhaka giant Usha Krira Chakra by 5-1 goals in the final at the Maulana Bhashani National Stadium here on Monday.
This is the 3rd club cup title for Abahani Limited since inception of the tournament in 1998 while four times champions Usha KC finished runners-up in the meet for the 3rd times.
Pakistani players–Toushique Arshad struck twice, Mohammad Irfan, Shakeel Abbasi and Shafqat Rasool –scored each for the sky-blue popular Dhanmondi outfit Abahani, which dominated the first half by 2-1 goals.
Malaysian player Faizal Bin Saari netted the lone goal for the hockey giant from Old Dhaka Usha KC, the champions of last two tournaments.
President of Bangladesh Hockey Federation and Chief of Bangladesh Force Air Chief Marshall Abu Esrar was the chief guest in the final and later he distributed the prizes. Chairman of the ATN Bangla Dr Mahfuzur Rahman was also present as special guest.
Champions Abahani Limited received prize money of Tk 70,000 while the runners-up Usha KC got Tk 35,000.
Rumman Sarkar of Abahani Limited was adjudged the best player of the tournament while Abahani forward Maksud Alam Habul named as the highest scorer of the tournament.
Soon after winning the title, Abahani captain cum custodian Asim Gope said, “We won match because we played without pressure as we had nothing to lose”.
In an immediate reaction, Advisory coach of Abahani Mahbub Harun said, “Our foreign (Pakistani) players made the difference in the match and our local players gave them proper support to win the match”.
In battle of five Pakistani players studded Abahani and four Malaysian players based Usha KC, Abahani finally smell their last laugh.
In the day’s final, Faizal Bin Saari put Usha KC ahead in the 7th minute by a quick flick, off a Ismail Bin Abu pass, silencing the Abahani fans (1-0).
Pakistani player Toushique Arshad leveled the margin for Abahani in the 16th minute by a brilliant grounder from a penalty corner, off a Shafqat Rasool push, stopped by Rumman Sarker (1-1).
Another Pakistani player Mohammad Irfan put Abahani ahead in the 27th minute by an angular push, off a Rumman Sarkar pass (2-1).
Pakistani forward Shakeel Abbasi scored the 3rd goal for Abahani in the 41st minute off Shafqat Rasool pass (3-1)
Shafqat Rasool further widen the Abahani margin in the 48th minute capitalizing Qasif Ali pass (3-1) while Taushique Arshad sealed the fate of the match scoring his 2nd and the 5th goal for Abahani in the 56th minute from a penalty corner.
