Today marks the beginning of the new football season in the country, which will be kicked off by the playing of the Independence Cup. The illustrious Bashundhara Kings, on the other hand, will be the centre of attention.
The first day of the tournament will begin with three matches spread among Gopalganj, Munshiganj, and Dhaka.
There will be a total of 13 teams competing for the championship in four different groups. The name Mohammedan has been on the winner’s podium three times over the course of the tournament’s previous 12 iterations. While Muktijoddha Sangsad, Sheikh Russel, Ctg Abahani, Farashganj SC, and Arambagh KS have each won the title once, Abahani and Bashundhara Kings are the only teams to have won it twice.
Bashundhara Kings, the defending champions, are planning to extend their marauding run in the 2023-24 season after recruiting 20 players from the pool of players available to the national team, in addition to some accomplished overseas combatants.
Because of this, the season appears to be headed in only one direction. After Sheikh Russel KC accomplished this remarkable achievement in the 2012-13 season, the Kings have a very high chance of following in their footsteps and winning all three titles in a single professional season.
Maruful Haque, the advisor for Chittagong Abahani, is similarly of the opinion that the Kings are likely to be an unbeatable force this season.
According to UEFA A licence coach Maruf, who has been engaged with the professional football league since the 2008-09 season, “a few other teams may express their desire to win the title but, realistically, they do not have the strength to challenge Bashundhara Kings, who will be unrivalled this season I think.” Maruf has been involved with the professional football league since the 2008-09 season.
Despite this, Kings head coach Oscar Bruzon anticipates that his team will have their most challenging season to date.
“It will be very challenging this time as many clubs seem to have reinforced their squads well and our team players have the toughest schedule,” Oscar told the newspaper The Daily Star.
“Apart from our AFC Cup commitments, we also provide the most players to the national football team who will face tough contests too this next year with the World Cup qualifiers to be played,” according to the Spaniard.