Mohammedan Sporting Club’s head coach Alfaz Ahmed lauded his players after they triumphed in the tense Federation Cup final in Cumilla on Tuesday by defeating their bitter rivals and the defending champions, Abahani, 4-2 in a penalty shootout. Ahmed praised his players for putting forth their utmost effort to win the first Federation Cup trophy in over a decade and a half.
The Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla was humming on Tuesday as supporters saw Mohammedan Sporting Club win their first Federation Cup victory in 14 years with a 4-2 triumph on penalties over archrivals Abahani after the gripping fight finished 4-4 following ordinary time and extra-time. The match between the two teams had ended 4-4 following the conclusion of normal time and extra-time.
This achievement was seen as a victory for the football in the country by Alfaz.
The Mohammedan SC head coach, who is 49 years old, prioritized today’s Federation Cup final over the matches in which he played for the club.
“There were exciting matches [between Mohammedan and Abahani]. I once played, but I want to put today’s match ahead of that,” Alfaz said. “I think it was not the triumph of Mohammedan, but rather a win for the country’s football,” he said. “I want to put today’s match ahead of that.”
Even though Shahriar Emon failed to score, the Mohammedan Black and Whites were able to secure their first title in nine years thanks to the efforts of Mohammedan captain Souleymane Diabate, who scored all four goals, and substitute goalkeeper Ahsan Habib Bipu, who stopped strikes from Abahani skipper Raphael Augusto and Daniel Colindres.
“It was a large match in which Mohammedan were on the back foot before rebounding back to equal the margin and then they gained the lead which was also given away. We ultimately won the match in the shootout,” an emotional Aflaz Ahmed told the press soon after winning the final. “It was a big match in which Mohammedan were on the back foot in which they were on the back foot before bouncing back to level the margin and then they seized the lead which was also given
“It was really tough to understand who were going to win the match, but our players were very committed to performing with an outstanding performance from Souleymane Diabate [who was later adjudged the man of the final for his four goals as well as the top scorer in the tournament]. All credit goes to the players who gave their utmost effort to make Mohammedan champions,” he added.
After the midterm transfers window closed, Alfaz, a former Mohammedan striker himself, took over as the head coach of the Black and Whites. He demonstrated excellent coaching abilities to bring Mohammedan its first silverware in nine years, since they won the Independence Cup in 2014.
After being behind 2-0 at the end of the first half, Alfaz made several beneficial changes in players and alterations to his system throughout the second half of the match. He explained that the successful outcome for his team was due to the substitution of Zafar Iqbal, Alomgir Kabir Rana, and Shahriar Emon coupled with the modification in the team’s shape.
“After the break, my message was to keep cool and perform. I brought three changes in the second half and changed the formation that inspired all players, and they availed themselves of the opportunities. I think the change in players made the difference,” he added. “I brought three changes in the second half and changed the formation that inspired all players.”
Alfaz predicted that his team will achieve even greater success in the following days as a direct result of this victory.
On the other side, after gaining a 2-0 lead in the first half of the game, Alfaz’s opponent Abahani’s coach Mario Lemos appeared to be disappointed that his team lost the match.
“I think we could not stop Mohammedan in the first 15 minutes of the second-half as the players were so slow and there was low intensity. We allowed them to catch the momentum and come back into the match. It was a 50-50 game but the game was up and down before the penalties made the difference,” said Lemos, who had to finish the season without any trophies. “It was a 50-50 game but the game was up and down before the penalties made the difference.”
He continued by saying, “We ought to have gotten a trophy this season, and it was my responsibility to make sure that happened.”
The Portuguese coach expressed his disappointment that Raphael Augusto and Daniel Colindres were unable to convert their penalty shots during the shootout, but he did give appreciation to the Mohammedan goalie for his performance.
“We did not expect misses from them but it may happen, I think we should give the credit to the goalkeeper who stopped them,” he added. “I think we should give the credit to the goalkeeper who stopped them.”