8 October 2025
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Kings target season’s first silverware in Challenge Cup showdown

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Banglapress Published: 23 September 2025, 10:26 AM
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Kings target season’s first silverware in Challenge Cup showdown
  Bangla Press Desk:  The domestic football season is set to kick off with the Challenge Cup, as defending champions Bashundhara Kings face off against league champions Mohammedan Sporting in a high-stakes clash on Friday. Both teams are desperate to get their hands on the silverware. The much-anticipated final will kick off at 2:30 PM on Friday at the Dhirendra Nath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla. At a press conference held at the BFF House on Wednesday, Kings captain Topu Barman made his intentions clear—he wants to retain the title. “Last year we won the Challenge Cup. This time the biggest thing is that there are no injuries in the squad. Everyone is fit and ready. We are working according to the coach’s instructions. He is a very good coach,” Topu said.
Acknowledging the challenge, the experienced defender added, “It will be a tough match. It’s a one-off final, and we must win. We will go in with that mentality.” Kings’ new Argentine coach Mario Gomez also drew praise from his skipper. “The coach, as a person, and in terms of mentality, is very good. His relationship with the players is very close. In the future, this bond will grow even stronger. His football philosophy is different, and you will see that on Friday. This is our first official match under him, and we will try to give him a winning start,” Topu said. Coach Gomez himself sounded optimistic, “Preparation has been good. There are no issues, because our boys have been playing with the national team. Since Sunday we have trained with the full squad. We are ready for Friday’s match.”
On the other side, Mohammedan coach Alfaz Ahmed made it clear that his sights are only on the trophy. “Since this is a championship match, we are only thinking about winning the title. I have had this team for a short time, but I am confident we will play for the trophy in the final,” he said. Alfaz was also respectful of the opponents, “We have to respect Bashundhara; they are a better team than us. Over the last five or six seasons they have always built stronger squads. They bring in high-quality coaches. This coach is also very good, a high-profile one.” Touching on the perennial issue of Mohammedan’s lack of facilities, Alfaz added, “This is part of Mohammedan’s tradition, no need to explain. We are used to it. There’s no solution.”
Newly appointed captain Mehedi Hasan Mithu expressed confidence in his side’s chances, “Our only goal in this match is to become champions. Last time we lost to Bashundhara, but this time we want to get the trophy back. Of course, there will be extra pressure. Even though I am captain, I have told everyone that I am not the only captain—everyone is a captain. If all of us take responsibility, Inshallah, we will be champions." This article was originally published on Daily Sun. [Bangla Press is a global platform for free thought. It provides impartial news, analysis, and commentary for independent-minded individuals. Our goal is to bring about positive change, which is more important today than ever before.]
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[Bangla Press is a global platform for free thought. It provides impartial news, analysis, and commentary for independent-minded individuals. Our goal is to bring about positive change, which is more important today than ever before.]

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