Bangladesh

In a break from tradition, Usha Krira Chakra became champions of the Green Delta Premier Division hockey league for the first time with one match in hand after beating Mohammedan Sporting Club 2-1 yesterday at the Maulana Bhasani National Stadium.

Usha's victory took their collection to an unassailable 33 points from 12 matches. Their nearest rivals and last year's champions Abahani are seven points behind with two games to play.


It was Usha's first major success in any competition since the club was established in 1975. Usha had in the past, regularly pushed powerhouses Abahani and Mohammedan in domestic hockey but never had title success to show for although they have finished runners-up twice.


The small group of Usha faithful who came to the ground fully prepared to celebrate, burst into ecstasy as the final whistle blew and danced to drums of a party band.


Any other result than a Usha win would have kept Abahani's hopes alive but even without their three star Pakistani players-- Mohammad Nadeem, Nayeem and Sajjad Anwar Usha were never really threatened by as Mohammedan became surprisingly lacklustre after the first half with the game locked 1-1.


Just after the restart, Mohamme-dan defender Mustafizur Rahman Dinar virtually gifted a penalty stroke when he inexplicably failed to take his leg out of the way on the goal-line from an Usha attack having saved a similar attempt seconds earlier.


Usha captain Moududur Rahman Shuvo made no mistakes in capitalising the opportunity which proved to be the winning one.


Earlier, Shuvo had put Usha ahead in the 10th minute after receiving the ball from Zahid Bin Talib. But nine minutes later striker Zahidul Islam Rajan equalised for Mohammedan with a fierce hit.


Usha's triumph was particularly sweet for young coach Mamunur Rashid who in his first year in charge, made the clubs long-standing dream a reality.


"It is really a great achievement for Usha as we could finally dethrone giants Abahani and Mohammedan. It was totally a team effort that brought the success," said the former Bangladesh star who had also spent three seasons as a player with the club.


"Most of our players are young but they responded brilliantly to my plans and I also give credit to our three Pakistani players," added the BKSP product

Mamun brushed aside whisperings that Mohammedan had 'given away' the game as they had no stakes in it.


" Mohammedan might have looked a little relaxed but that was always going to be a possibility because the game had no significance for them. But that doesn't take anything away from our victory as we fully deserved the title because of our consistent performance in the league," said Mamun.


Captain Shuvo heaped lavish praise on his coach..


"It was not easy to become champion beating Abahani and Mohammedan. The secret was our team effort, discipline and the coach who made a difference," said Shuvo.


The club dedicated their achievement to its founder late Syed Anwar Hossain.

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