Home ›› 18 May 2022 ›› Sport
Bangladeshi champions Bashundhara Kings will kick start their AFC Cup campaign against Maldivian side Maziya Sports and Recreation Club at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata today.
Kings, who are in Group D, entered the competition directly as the champions of the Bangladesh Premier League. They were joined by Maziya, Gokulam FC of India, and ATK Mohun Bagan.
League leaders Kings reached Kolkata on Saturday at noon, three days after their victory against Bangladesh Police FC.
Having won four of their last five matches in the league, Kings will be going into the game with decent form but will face a very worthy opponent in Maziya.
Kings’ coach Oscar Bruzon will be without the services of defender Topu Barman, and the onus will be on stalwarts Tariq Kazi and Yeasin Arafat to command the defence.
Kings will bank on their Brazilian talisman Robson Robinho to create opportunities for the team. The 26-year-old attacking midfielder has scored 11 goals and provided nine assists in 14 appearances in the BPL this season.
Kings can draw motivation from their 2-0 victory against Maziya in Maldives 2021, but will look to qualify as group champions and advance to the inter-zonal semi-final stage of the competition.
Kings will face Mohun Bagan in the second match on May 21 and end the group stage against Gokulam FC on May 24.
