Kings start title defence with shock defeat

Defending Champions of the Bangladesh Premier League, Bashundhara Kings, started their title defence with a shock defeat as league debutants Swadhinata Krira Sangha beat them 2-1 at the Shahid Ahsan Ullah Master Stadium in Tongi, Gazipur on Thursday.

In the other match, Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club beat Uttar Baridhara by the same margin to get off to a winning start.

The defeat was an insult to injury for Kings as they had stripped off their home venue only two days before the league campaign started. Bashundhara Kings Arena was supposed to be one of the three venues for this season. But as the Bangladesh Football Federation refused Kings to use the stadium as their home ground, the venue was scrapped, and the league started with only two venues.

Kings then had a horror start to their campaign as in the 24th minute, Swadhinata KS’ Bosnian forward Nedo Turkovic scored to hand them their first goal in the league. Things only got worse for Kings in the second half as Rasel Ahmed doubled Swadhinata KS’ lead in the first minute.

Kings brought in three changes and one of them, Tawhidul Sabuz had an instant impact as he scored in the 72nd minute to give Kings some hope.

Kings tried hard in the final 20 minutes of the match to at least secure a point to jump-start their campaign, but it was not to happen as Swadinata KS managed to secure all three points.

After the match, a Kings official, seeking anonymity, said they would complain to FIFA about this match.

“We will complain to FIFA. We had our home ground prepared, but we were stripped off it and were forced to play on a ground of sub-standard quality,” the official said.