Citycell B League

Amalesh wants it now:

Abahani coach Amalesh Sen said he would go for the kill against Sheikh Russel in today's B. League match to ensure that the professional league trophy stays in Dhanmondi.

With the defending champions and the runaway league leaders, on 44 points from 18 games, needing just one point from the remaining two matches to seal the championship, the Abahani veteran added that he does not want to wait 12 more days to lay his hands on the silverware.

"I know we need just one point but we are eyeing the maximum from our remaining matches. Tomorrow is a big match and anything can happen. As our next game is far away, we don't want any waiting," said Amalesh yesterday.

Abahani, who rest next week, will meet Rahmatganj in their last match on February 17 but they would line up today for their fourth game inside 12 days.

Having won their last seven matches in a row, the Sky-Blues will definitely start as favourites to pick up at least one point if not more against Wajed Gazi's men, who are now nine points adrift of the leaders with a game more to play.

"I know we beat them convincingly (3-0) in the first leg but Russel are desperate because if they can beat us, it would open up hopes for them to come back in the title race. They also have players like Alfaz, who has notched 14 goals this season.

Their new foreign recruits are also playing well, so it would not be easy for us," said former Bangladesh international Amalesh, whose only worry was a half fit Mamunul Islam in the midfield.

Mamun appeared in the latter stage of their last match against Muktijoddha but is still a doubtful starter while midfield stalwart Joy, who was another second-half substitute, has recovered enough to get back in the starting eleven.

Russel coach Gazi, however, believed that Abahani are the only team in the title race.

"We went on the backfoot after the draws against Mohammedan and Brothers. In fact we are now fighting with Mohammedan for the second spot," said Gazi dismissing Russel's slim hopes of finishing atop the table.

Russel's failure to beat any of the remaining top three this season and recruiting an entirely new set of foreign players in the mid-season break have perhaps hampered their campaign, if not the club officials' reported interference on team selection bypassing the coach.

"We don't have any other option but to win all our matches but even if we do that, we can't catch Abahani if they get just one point. In my long career, I have never seen any team in this position to spill from such a comfortable position.

"Abahani will definitely start in a better position and their morale would also be high after beating Mohammedan 2-1 and crushing Brothers 3-0 in their last three matches.

"We are also going to miss Alfaz's strike partner Samir Omari, who is suspended for tomorrow's game," informed Gazi, the senior most coach in the domestic circuit, adding that he has not a proper replacement.

Omari, who has scored five goals in as many appearances, also picked up three bookings and Russel will have to field only two foreigners in Serbian Marco Maric and Moroccan Al Moujahid as Moroccan midfielder Ahmad Reda has left.