Rahmatganj MFS
![]() | |||
Full name | Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society | ||
---|---|---|---|
Founded | 1933 | ||
Ground | Shaheed Bir Sreshtho Flight Lt. Matiur Rahman Stadium | ||
Capacity | 10,000 | ||
Chairman | Haji Mohammad Salim | ||
Head coach | Kamal Babu | ||
League | Bangladesh Premier League | ||
2023–24 | BPL, 9th of 10 | ||
| |||
Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society (Bengali : রহমতগঞ্জ মুসলিম ফ্রেন্ডস সোসাইটি) is a Bangladeshi professional football club[1][2] based in Old Dhaka. Founded in 1933, the club is currently competing in the Bangladesh Premier League. It was also a team of Bangladesh Championship League,[3] until gaining promotion in the 2014 season. Haji Md. Salim MP is the current president and Imteaz Hamid Sabuj is the general secretary.
History
[edit]Early years (1933–1965)
[edit]Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society was founded in January 1933 in Old Dhaka, during the British regime. The club's founder, Abul Kashem Shaheb, was a resident of the Rahmatganj area in Old Dhaka. The other founding members were Alauddin, Md. Azam, Ahmad Hossain, Md. Sadek, and Abu Saeed from Imamganj. Abdus Sobhan and Md. Kashem served as the club's first president and general secretary, respectively. Originally, the club operated as a social service institution, but gradually it became involved in sports. As a result, the club began participating in various football tournaments held in Dhaka, forming a team with the area's youth.[4]
In 1950, Md. Kashem, held a meeting with the general Secretary of Dhaka District Sports Association at the time, Khawaja Ajmal Saheb, and arranged the fee required to enter the Second Division. The club remained active in the league throughout the decade, nonetheless, were eventually relegated as they were unable to form a stable team. In 1963, under preseident Md. Aref Mia Sardar and general secretary M.A. Awal, the club became champions of the Third Division.[4]
In 1964, the club formed a team with the help of Jahangir Faiz Saheb from Dhaka Hall, which included university students M.M. Sharif, Ramzan Ali, Montu Abzan Khan, Abdul Aziz, and captain Baharuddin. The team went on to become Second Division champions, securing its promotion to the First Division.[5][6]
The First Division era (1965–1993)
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/1968_Rahmatganj_Vs_EPIDC.png/220px-1968_Rahmatganj_Vs_EPIDC.png)
In 1965, the club entered the First Division under the captaincy of QM Rafique Dipu.[4] On May 17, they began their top-tier journey with a 0–7 defeat to defending champions Victoria SC. The club finished their inaugural season in the First Division in tenth place. They consistently finished in fifth place for three consecutive seasons, from 1966 to 1968. Notable players who played for the club during this time included Sultan Ahmed, Mohammed Kaikobad, Golam Sarwar Tipu, Manjur Murshid Gauss, Shajahan Alam, and Scooter Gafoor, among others. The club first participated in the Aga Khan Gold Cup in 1966 under the captaincy of Shajahan Alam. During the tournament, the club defeated the West Pakistan Government Press but suffered a defeat to Ceylon, which ultimately prevented them from reaching the Round-robin league of the tournament. The club finished in fourth and fifth places in 1969 and 1970, respectively.[6]
Following the Independence of Bangladesh, the club was coached by Noor Hossain, a physical education teacher at Jagannath College.[4] In 1973, Rahmatganj participated in the Bordoloi Trophy held in Guwahati, India.[6] The team included club captain Sultan Ahmed and several guest players from different local clubs, such as Nowsheruzzaman, Sharifuzzaman, Enayetur Rahman and Zakaria Pintoo. The club finished in third-place in the 1973 season, the first completed season since the country's liberation. In 1977, the club enjoyed one of the most successful seasons in its history, finishing as runners-up behind Dhaka Abahani in both the league and the Liberation Cup. In the first leg of the league's title-deciding game, Rahmatganj earned a 0–0 draw with Abahani. However, in the return game held on 22 September, the club, down to ten men after Salahuddin Kala[7] was sent off, suffered a 1–3 defeat, despite Hassan Ahmedul Haque giving them the lead.[8][9]
In 1978, Wazed Gazi took over the club's head coach duties from Noor Hossain and served until 1983.[10] During this time, the club finished third in the league in both 1982 and 1984, the latter under coach Abdur Rahim. Rahim remained at the post until 1986, after which the club would enjoy regular mid-table finishes.[11] In 1992, they finished fifth in the league, which qualified them, along with that season's top ten teams, to become founding members of the newly introduced top-tier league the following year, the Premier Division.[12]
Yo-yo years (1993–2007)
[edit]Relegation to the First Division came after the club finished ninth with thirteen points from eighteen games during the inaugural edition of the Premier Division in 1993.[13] This marked the end of Rahmatganj's 28-year stay in the top flight. In 1994, under the captaincy of Mohammed Aman, the club became First Division champions and returned to the top-flight on their first attempt.[14]
In 2001, with the help of star-striker Saifur Rahman Moni, Rahmatganj finished the league season in third-place, six points off the eventual champions, Dhaka Abahani. Moni departed for Muktijoddha Sangsad KC in 2002, and the club suffered relegation the same year, finishing second from bottom with fourteen points from thirteen league games. In 2004, while remaining a First Division team, the club reached the quarter-finals of the Federation Cup, where they were defeated 1–2 by Muktijoddha.[15]
Eventually, the would gain promotion back to the top-division in 2005 as champions of the First Division with thirty three points from fourteen league games.[16] Their only defeat that season came at the hand of BRTC Sports Club, losing 1–2 at the BSSS Mostafa Kamal Stadium on 11 July.[17]
Initially, with the introduction of the country's first professional football league, the Bangladesh Premier League (introduced as B.League), in 2007, the club was set to participate in the Senior Division, a merger of the Premier and First Divisions, serving as the second-tier.[18] However, following the withdrawal of Faridpur FA from the new top tier, Rahmatganj was given a place in the professional league as champions of the 2004–05 First Division.[19]
Professional league era (2007–present)
[edit]The club participated in the inaugural professional league season season under coach Abdul Motaleb and was led by captain Shoyeb Hossain Sony.[5] On March 3, 2007, they began their league journey with a 0–2 defeat to Khulna Abahani, in a match where Khulna's Prashanta Dey made history by scoring the league's first-ever goal.[20] On March 28, Hanif Pradhan scored the club's first league goal during a 1–4 defeat to Muktijoddha Sangsad KC.[21] The club finally won a league game on matchday twelve, defeating Arambagh KS 2–1 in a game held on June 2. The club eventually finished at the bottom of the league with thirteen points from twenty games. However, they remained in the top flight as the league introduced a relegation system starting from the 2009–10 season.[22]
Eventually, Rahmatganj would be relegated from the league in the 2012 season finishing botton of the table with only nine points from twenty games.[14] The club would also be investigated by the Bangladesh Football Federation due to match-fixing allegations, nonetheless, the Federation failed to find any incriminating evidence against them.[23][24] Rahmatganj would enter the country's second-tier professional league, the Bangladesh Championship League in 2013. The club would miss out on promotion after finishing third, six points off of second-place Uttar Baridhara.[25] The club would eventually return to the Premier League as champions in 2014.[26]
Rahmatganj would finish runners-up in the Federation Cup in both the 2019–20 and 2021–22 editions.[27][28]
Ground
[edit]The club ground, located at Chowk Bazaar, is often used as a cattle market during Eid al-Adha. The market has been operated by the club every year since 1967, helping the club generate enough profit to participate in the professional league.[29][30]
Shirt sponsors
[edit]Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
---|---|---|
2007–2008 | Sattar Textiles[31] | |
2014–2022 | Tiger Cement[32] | |
2022–present | None |
Players
[edit]Current squad
[edit]- As of 18 May 2024
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Current technical staff
[edit]Coaching staff
[edit]- As of 29 May 2024
Position | Name |
---|---|
Head Coach | ![]() |
Team Manager | ![]() |
Assistant Coach | ![]() |
Team Leader | ![]() |
Assistant Manager | ![]() |
Goalkeeping Coach | ![]() |
Equipment Manager | ![]() |
Media Officer | ![]() |
Security Officer | ![]() |
Physiotherapist | ![]() |
Board of directors
[edit]- As of 1 August 2024
Position | Name |
---|---|
President | ![]() |
General secretary | ![]() |
Team records
[edit]Managerial record
[edit]- As of 29 May 2024
Head Coach | From | To | P | W | D | L | GS | GA | %/W |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
10 February 2017 | 2 August 2022 | 80 | 18 | 25 | 37 | 106 | 146 | 22.50 |
![]() |
1 October 2022 | 15 November 2023 | 30 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 30 | 44 | 26.67 |
![]() |
2 December 2023 | 30 December 2023 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 20.00 |
![]() |
2 January 2024[33] | 22 March 2024 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 0.00 |
![]() |
22 March 2024[34] | 5 May 2024 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 14.29 |
![]() |
10 May 2024 | Present | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 25.00 |
‡– Interim P - Total of played matches | W - Won matches | D - Draw matches | L - Lost matches | GS - Goals scored | GA - Goals against | %W - Percentage of matches won
Season by season record
[edit]Record as Professional Football League member | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Division | League | Federation Cup | Independence Cup | Top league scorer(s) | ||||||||||
P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | Position | Player | Goals | ||||||
2007 | BPL | 20 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 15 | 48 | 13 | 11th | — | — | ![]() ![]() |
3 | ||
2008–09 | BPL | 20 | 6 | 3 | 11 | 24 | 32 | 21 | 7th | Group-stages | ![]() |
13 | |||
2009–10 | BPL | 24 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 28 | 36 | 26 | 8th | Quarter-finals | ![]() |
9 | |||
2010–11 | BPL | 22 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 29 | 48 | 24 | 8th | Group-stages | Group-stages | ![]() |
13 | ||
2012 | BPL | 20 | 2 | 3 | 15 | 13 | 46 | 9 | 11th | Quarter-finals | — | ![]() |
6 | ||
2012–13 | BCL | 14 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 16 | 13 | 19 | 3rd | Group-stages | Qual. round 2 | ![]() |
6 | ||
2013–14 | BCL | 18 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 36 | 8 | 44 | Champions | Group-stages | Group-stages | ![]() |
11 | ||
2014–15 | BPL | 20 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 21 | 39 | 14 | 10th | Group-stages | — | ![]() |
7 | ||
2016 | BPL | 22 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 37 | 34 | 27 | 7th | Quarter-finals | Group-stages | ![]() |
12 | ||
2017–18 | BPL | 22 | 3 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 30 | 18 | 10th | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | ![]() |
4 | ||
2018–19 | BPL | 24 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 34 | 53 | 22 | 10th | Group-stages | Quarter-finals | ![]() |
13 | ||
2019–20 | BPL | Abandoned | Runners-up | — | ![]() ![]() |
2 | |||||||||
2020–21 | BPL | 24 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 23 | 31 | 25 | 8th | Group-stages | ![]() |
8 | |||
2021–22 | BPL | 22 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 33 | 46 | 18 | 10th | Runners-up | Group-stages | ![]() |
12 | ||
2022–23 | BPL | 20 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 15 | 31 | 19 | 9th | Quarter-finals | Group-stages | ![]() |
4 | ||
2023–24 | BPL | 18 | 2 | 10 | 6 | 19 | 26 | 16 | 9th | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | ![]() |
9 |
P – Total of played matches
W – Won matches
D – Drawn matches
L – Lost matches
GF – Goals for the team
GA – Goals against
Pts- Points
AFC club ranking
[edit]- As of 11 June 2023[35]
Ranking | Team | Points |
---|---|---|
429 | ![]() |
35.0 |
430 | ![]() |
35.0 |
431 | ![]() |
35.0 |
432 | ![]() |
34.0 |
433 | ![]() |
34.0 |
Honours
[edit]League
[edit]- Bangladesh Championship League
- Champions (1): 2014
- Dhaka First Division League (level 2)
- Champions (2): 1994, 2004–05
- Runners-up (1): 1996
- Dhaka First Division League (level 1)
- Runners-up (1): 1977
- Dhaka Second Division League
- Champions (1): 1964
- Dhaka Third Division League
- Champions (1): 1963
Cup
[edit]- Federation Cup
- Liberation Cup
- Runners-up (1): 1977
Notable players
[edit]- The players below had senior international cap(s) for their respective countries. Players whose name is listed, represented their countries before or after playing for Rahmatganj MFS.
Asia
Golam Sarwar Tipu (1966)[36]
Ganesh Thapa (1988–89)[37]
Upendra Man Singh (2003–04)[38]
Siyovush Asrorov (2020–21; 2022)[39]
Khurshed Beknazarov (2021–22)[40]
Fatkhullo Fatkhulloyev (2022–23)[41]
References
[edit]- ^ "Rahmatganj MFS". BFF. Archived from the original on 2019-09-08. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
- ^ "Rahmatgonj Muslim Friends Society". int.soccerway.com. Archived from the original on 2019-06-26. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
- ^ "BFF". BFF. Archived from the original on 2014-06-06. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
- ^ a b c d Kabir, Iqbal (July 3, 2022). "বাংলাদেশের ফুটবলে ভুলে যাওয়া নাম সত্তুর দশকের শার্প শ্যুটার সুলতান". Ctgsangbad (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ a b "The Daily Star Web Edition Vol. 5 Num 948". archive.thedailystar.net. 29 January 2007. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ a b c Dulal, Mahmud (2020). খেলার মাঠে মুক্তিযুদ্ধ (transl. Liberation war in the playground) (in Bengali). Bishhoshahitto Bhobon. ISBN 978-984-8218-31-0.
- ^ "Football loses two stars". The Daily Star. February 6, 2014. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024.
- ^ Kabir, Iqbal (25 September 2022). "বিদেশের বিরুদ্ধে বাংলাদেশের প্রথম ফুটবল জয়ের নায়ক স্ট্রাইকার হাসান এখন যেমন আছেন". Ctgsangbad (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 2 January 2024.
- ^ "মনে পড়ে দেশের মাটিতে প্রথম জয়ের নায়ক তারকা ফুটবলার সুদর্শন স্ট্রাইকার হাসানের কথা". Kiron's Sport Desk (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 2 January 2024.
- ^ Rahman, Anisur (September 14, 2018). "Star-tracker no more". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
- ^ Dulal, Mahmud (2014). পাকিস্তান জাতীয় দল বাঙালি খেলোয়াড় (transl. Bengali players in the Pakistan national team) (in Bengali). Bishhoshahitto Bhobon.
- ^ "Bangladesh 1992". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "Bangladesh 1993". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ a b "Rahmatganj relegated". The Daily Star. June 20, 2012. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "Bangladesh 2004". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "Rahmatganj become first team to promote to premier league". Bdnews24. 9 July 2005. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "The Daily Star Web Edition Vol. 5 Num 400". archive.thedailystar.net. 12 July 2005. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "The Daily Star Web Edition Vol. 5 Num 713". archive.thedailystar.net. 31 May 2006. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "Bangladesh 2007". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "The Daily Star Web Edition Vol. 5 Num 981". archive.thedailystar.net. 4 March 2007. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "The Daily Star Web Edition Vol. 5 Num 1004". archive.thedailystar.net. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024.
- ^ "The Daily Star Web Edition Vol. 5 Num 1120". archive.thedailystar.net. 25 July 2007. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "Match-fixing committee sits". The Daily Star. May 12, 2012. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "BFF finds 'em not guilty". The Daily Star. August 8, 2012. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "Ctg Abahani, Baridhara through". The Daily Star. June 8, 2013. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "Rahmatganj secure title". The Daily Star. May 21, 2014. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "Kings clinch maiden Federation Cup title". Dhaka Tribune. 5 January 2020. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "ফের চ্যাম্পিয়ন আবাহনী, রহমতগঞ্জের আরও এক দুঃখ". Dhaka Post. January 9, 2022. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "গরুর হাটের আয়ে চলে যে ক্লাব". Prothom Alo (in Bengali). June 15, 2024. Archived from the original on 10 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "গরুর হাটের আয়ে চলে যে ক্লাব". Prothom Alo (in Bengali). September 11, 2017. Archived from the original on 10 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "Sattar Textiles sticks with tradition". The Daily Star. December 21, 2008. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "Tiger cement boost for Rahmatganj". Dhaka Tribune. 2014-04-17. Archived from the original on 2019-12-31. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
- ^ "দুই ক্লাবকে সাফল্য এনে দেওয়া মিলন এখন রহমতগঞ্জে". www.banglatribune.com (in Bengali). 2 January 2024. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- ^ "রহমতগঞ্জের ফের কোচ পরিবর্তন; আসছেন বিদেশী কোচ". Offsidebangladesh (in Bengali). 2024-03-22. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
- ^ "AFC club rankings". footballalphabet.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
- ^ "ফুটবলের জন্যই এক জীবনে এত সম্মান". Kalerkantho (in Bengali). October 17, 2014. Archived from the original on December 8, 2022. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
- ^ "আমি ফুটবল রাজনীতির শিকার". dhakapost.com. Archived from the original on 2022-10-07. Retrieved 2022-10-07.
- ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Upendra Man Singh (Player)". national-football-teams.com. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
- ^ Rahmatganj MFS at Soccerway. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
- ^ "Wins for Mohammedan, Ctg Abahani". The Daily Star. August 15, 2021. Archived from the original on August 10, 2024. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
- ^ "Fathullo Fathulloev Pereezzhaet V Bangladesh/". sports.tj (in Russian). Spots TJ. 13 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
Further reading
[edit]- Hoque, Shishir (4 March 2018). "Football before the birth of Bangladesh". archive.dhakatribune.com. Dhaka, Bangladesh: Dhaka Tribune. Archived from the original on 27 September 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- "অবশেষে দেশে ফিরলেন কিংবদন্তি ফুটবলার এনায়েত". Daily Janakantha (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 2022-08-30. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
- Mahmud, Dulal (20 September 2020). "ফুটবলার আসলামের আসলাম হয়ে ওঠার গল্প" [The story of footballer Aslam's journey of becoming Aslam]. khulnagazette.com (in Bengali). Khulna, Bangladesh: Khulna Gazette. Archived from the original on 28 August 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
- Mahmud, Dulal (10 April 2021). "আকাশি-নীলের উত্থান" [The rise of ski-blue]. utpalshuvro.com (in Bengali). Dhaka: Utpal Shuvro. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
- Kabir, Iqbal (13 January 2024). "ফুটবলে তিনি রহমতগঞ্জের এজাজ হিসেবে পরিচিত ছিলেন" [He was known as Ejaz of Rahmatganj in football]. Ctgsangbad.com (in Bengali). Ctgsangbad. Archived from the original on 10 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- Kabir, Iqbal (2 July 2022). "ফুটবলে তিনি রহমতগঞ্জের এজাজ হিসেবে পরিচিত ছিলেন" [Pathshalas for making footballers in rural towns, should be looked at: Askar Khan Babu]. Ctgsangbad.com (in Bengali). Ctgsangbad. Archived from the original on 10 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- "ফুটবলে তিনি রহমতগঞ্জের এজাজ হিসেবে পরিচিত ছিলেন" [When the fruit seller's son is a footballer...] (in Bengali). Daily Janakantha. 18 January 2018. Archived from the original on 10 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.