2007 B.League
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The 2007 B.League was the 31st season of top-flight football in Bangladesh, and inaugural season of the country's first professional national football league, the B.League. The competitions included a total of 11 teams from which 8 were based in Dhaka, 2 from Chittagong and 1 team from Khulna. Sylhet DSA who were supposed to represent Sylhet withrew a month before the league began and the Bangladesh Football Federation decided against replacing them.
Previously, the Dhaka Senior Division League, was the country's top-tier football competition. However, it was not held after the 2004–05 season, which ended on 12 September 2005. Consequently, before the introduction of the professional league, the country went almost 18 months without any top-tier league football. Excluding the three relegated teams (Dhaka Wanderers, Fakirerpool YMC, and Dipali JS), seven teams from the previous top-flight season, along with Rahmatganj MFS, Chittagong Mohammedan SC, Chittagong Abahani, and Khulna Abahani SC, made up the inaugural season of the professional league.
Initially the season was set to start from January 2006 as part of The Vision Asia project guided by AFC. However, after numerous delays the transfer window was opened on 15 December 2006. The ceremonial draw for the competition was held on 22 February 2007. On 28 February 2007, Channel i were given the rights to broadcast 40 matches from the league. The league kicked off on 2 March 20007, with Dhaka Abahani and Muktijoddha Sangsad KC playing out a goalless draw. The a month-long mid-season transfer window opened on 16 May 2007.
The league concluded on 1 August 2007, with Dhaka Abahani winning the inaugural season.
Teams
Initially, 12 teams were set to participate in the league; however, Sylhet DSA withdrew. The Dhaka Senior Division League, which was last held in 2004–05, served as the previous top-tier league. Excluding the three relegated clubs, the remaining seven clubs from that season, along with the 2004–05 Dhaka First Division League (second-tier from 1993 to 2005) champions, Rahmatganj MFS, were granted entry into the league. Additionally, three clubs—Chittagong Mohammedan SC, Chittagong Abahani and Khulna Abahani SC—received direct entry into the league.
Personnel and sponsoring
| Team | Head coach |
|---|---|
| Arambagh KS | Bangladesh Kazi Jolly |
| Brothers Union | India Syed Nayeemuddin |
| Chittagong Abahani | Bangladesh Sawpan Kumar Das |
| Chittagong Mohammedan | Bangladesh Nazrul Islam Ledu |
| Dhaka Abahani | Bangladesh Amalesh Sen |
| Dhaka Mohammedan | Bangladesh Shafiqul Islam Manik |
| Farashganj SC | Bangladesh Mir Mohammed Faruque |
| Khulna Abahani | Bangladesh Hemayet Ullah |
| Muktijoddha Sangsad KC | Bangladesh Abu Yusuf |
| Rahmatganj MFS | Bangladesh Motaleb Hossain |
| Sheikh Russel KC | Bangladesh Wazed Gazi |
Coaching changes
| Team | Outgoing head coach | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming head coach | Date of appointment | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dhaka Abahani | Argentina Andres Cruciani | Mutual Consent | 7 May 2007 | 1 | Bangladesh Amalesh Sen | 8 May 2007 |
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dhaka Abahani (C) | 20 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 36 | 8 | +28 | 47 | Qualification for the AFC President's Cup group stage |
| 2 | Dhaka Mohammedan | 20 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 40 | 13 | +27 | 40 | |
| 3 | Muktijoddha Sangsad | 20 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 29 | 19 | +10 | 33 | |
| 4 | Sheikh Russel | 20 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 23 | 13 | +10 | 33 | |
| 5 | Brothers Union | 20 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 32 | 19 | +13 | 29 | |
| 6 | Arambagh KS | 20 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 22 | 23 | −1 | 27 | |
| 7 | Chittagong Mohammedan | 20 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 20 | 26 | −6 | 26 | |
| 8 | Farashganj SC | 20 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 17 | 22 | −5 | 22 | |
| 9 | Khulna Abahani | 20 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 21 | 43 | −22 | 16 | |
| 10 | Chittagong Abahani | 20 | 4 | 3 | 13 | 18 | 39 | −21 | 15 | |
| 11 | Rahmatganj MFS | 20 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 15 | 48 | −33 | 13 |
Statistics
There have been 273 goals scored in 110 matches, for an average of 2.48 goals per match. Source:
Top scorers
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nigeria Junior Obagbemiro | Brothers Union | 16 |
| 2 | Nigeria Paul Mawachukwu | Dhaka Mohammedan | 14 |
| 3 | Nigeria Christina Emeka | Dhaka Mohammedan | 12 |
| Bangladesh Zahid Hasan Ameli | Dhaka Abahani | ||
| 5 | Bangladesh Alfaz Ahmed | Muktijoddha Sangsad KS | 8 |
| Kenya Nicodemus Anunda Gichana | Arambagh KS | ||
| Bangladesh Mohamed Hedayetullah Robin | Farashganj SC | ||
| 8 | Morocco Touati Younes | Sheikh Russel KC | 7 |
| 9 | Liberia Abraham Bobby | Chittagong Abahani | 6 |
| Ghana Awudu Ibrahim | Dhaka Abahani | ||
| Uganda Iddi Badambuze | Arambagh KS | ||
| Bangladesh Saifur Rahman Moni | Muktijoddha Sangsad KS |
Own goals
† Bold Club indicates winner of the match
| Player | Club | Opponent | Result | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh Sharif Khan | Arambagh KS | Brothers Union | 1–3 | 3 April 2007 |
| Bangladesh Mamun Khan | Farashganj SC | Rahmatganj MFS | 1–1 | 3 April 2007 |
Hat-tricks
| Player | For | Against | Result | Date | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria Paul Mawachukwu6 | Dhaka Mohammedan | Rahmatganj MFS | 7–1 (H) | 13 March 2007 | |
| Bangladesh Alfaz Ahmed | Muktijoddha Sangsad KC | Rahmatganj MFS | 4–1 (A) | 27 March 2007 | |
| Nigeria Junior Obagbemiro | Brothers Union | Rahmatganj MFS | 6–2 (A) | 10 May 2007 | |
| Nigeria Christina Emeka | Dhaka Mohammedan | Chittagong Mohammedan | 7–0 (H) | 7 June 2007 | |
| Nigeria Junior Obagbemiro4 | Brothers Union | Khulna Abahani | 5–0 (A) | 10 June 2007 | |
| Bangladesh Zahid Hasan Ameli4 | Dhaka Abahani | Rahmatganj MFS | 7–0 (A) | 7 June 2007 | |
| Nigeria Christina Emeka | Dhaka Mohammedan | Rahmatganj MFS | 3–1 (A) | 7 July 2007 |
Awards
A prize distribution ceremony was held by the Bangladesh Football Federation on 5 August 2007.
Individual
| Award | Player | Club | Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highest Scorer | Junior Obagbemiro | Brothers Union | Tk 25,000 |
| Best Player | Zahid Hasan Ameli | Dhaka Abahani | Tk 25,000 |
| Fair Play Trophy | Chittagong Mohammedan |
Prize Money
| Position | Club | Prize money |
|---|---|---|
| Champions | Dhaka Abahani | Tk 5 lakh |
| Runners-up | Dhaka Mohammedan | Tk 3 lakh |
| Third place | Muktijoddha Sangsad KC | Tk 2 lakh |
| Fourth place | Sheikh Russel KC | Tk 1 lakh |
External links
- at RSSSF
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