Bangladesh Premier League Champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club will play Selangor FA of Malaysia in Group E match of the AFC Cup Football’ 2016 at Selayan Municipal Council Stadium in Malaysia today (Tuesday).
Sheikh Jamal DC, which are struggling for non-unavailability of loan and injured players, left the capital for Malaysia on Sunday night with a weak team of only 14 eligible players.
The three times premier league champions are almost out of the quarterfinal race of the continental tournament after suffering three consecutive defeat and remained at the bottom in the four-team group without any point.
Sheikh Jamal suffered 0-4 defeat against Tampines Rovers in their away match in Singapore while they conceded 0-2 defeat against Celes La Salle of Philippines and 3-4 defeat against Selangir FA of Malaysia in their two home matches in Dhaka.
Tampines Rovers of Singapore topped the list securing seven points, followed by Ceres La Salle of Philippines with five points and Selangor FA of Malaysia with four points, playing three matches each.
Sheikh Jamal DC are looking for their maiden win while Selangor FA second win of the 2016 continental campaign on Tuesday.
Sheikh Jamal have had a difficult introduction to continental competition after suffering three consecutive defeats but there was distinct improvement in last month’s 4-3 defeat to Tuesday’s opponents.
In the remaining group matches, Sheikh Jamal will play Tampines Rovers at home on April 26 and meet Celes La Salle in the away match on May 10.
“Selangor are a strong side who play well at home, so it’s going to be a hard match for us,” said Sheikh Jamal coach Shafiqul Islam Manik after reaching Kuala Lumpur Monday morning.
“We have injury problems and other players had moved to other clubs ahead of the new domestic season, so it will be a difficult game,” Manik further said, according to an AFC media release on Monday.
“We had been suffering from inconsistent form and we have been working hard to change this tendency,” said Selangor coach Zainal. “Tomorrow, it is very important for us to win and get three points.”
