2020–21 Saif Sporting Club season

Saif Sporting Club
2020–21 season
OwnerSaif Powertec Limited
Head coachPaul Put (until 26 February)
Zulfiker Mahmud Mintu (interim; from 26 February to 8 March)
Stewart Hall (from 9 March to 31 July)[1]
Zulfiker Mahmud Mintu (from 1 August)
StadiumBangabandhu National Stadium
Bangladesh Premier League4th
Federation CupFinal
Independence CupCancelled
Top goalscorerLeague: John Okoli (18)
All: John Okoli (18)
Biggest win6–1 vs Brothers Union
Biggest defeat2–5 vs Chittagong Abahani

The 2020–21 season is the Saif SC's[2] 5th season since its establishment in 2016[3] and their 4th consecutive season in the Bangladesh Premier League after promoting in 2017.[4][5]

On 16 March 2020, All sorts of sports activities in Bangladesh were postponed until 31 March as a precaution to combat the spread of coronavirus in the country, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Youth and Sports. So beginning of this season was delayed.[6][7][8]

Season review

Pre-season

Before beginning of the season, Saif Sporting Club was looking forward to replace their head coach Drago Mamic & renew contract with team captain Jamal Bhuyan.[9][10] Saif was also interested to replace foreign players & some local youths.[11] Jahongir Ergashev and Murolimzhon Akhmedov already left the club to join FK Khujand and FC Neftchi respectively. On 24 September, it was announced that Emery Bayisenge joining Rwandan club AS Kigali on a one-year loan deal from Saif SC. As of a Rwandan news publisher, the transfer fee was 12 millions Rwandan franc.[12]

On 29 October, managing director Nasiruddin Chowdhury confirmed that they’re bringing belgian coach Paul Put to replace Mamic.

On 31 October, Saif SC sent names of three players they want to let go for the 2020-21 season to BFF. The players were forward Mehebub Hasan Nayan & Kafsut Taius along with defender Nazmul Hossain Akondo.[13]

On 11 November, the club officially announced the signing of Emmanuel Ariwachukwu, John Okoli, Kenneth Ikechukwu and Sirozhiddin Rakhmatullaev.[14]

On 29 November, Saif SC played a pre-season friendly with Bangladesh Police FC. The match was won by 2-0 as Kenneth & John found the net.

Players

Saif Sporting Club Limited squad for 2020–21 season.

As of 19 April 2021

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Bangladesh BAN Pappu Hossain
2 DF Bangladesh BAN Yeasin Arafat
3 DF Bangladesh BAN Rahmat Mia
4 MF Uzbekistan UZB Sirozhiddin Rakhmatullaev
5 DF Bangladesh BAN Riyadul Hasan Rafi (Vice-captain)
6 MF Bangladesh BAN Jamal Bhuyan (Captain)
8 FW Nigeria NGA John Okoli
10 MF Bangladesh BAN Shahedul Alam Shahed Sr.
12 MF Bangladesh BAN Sazzad Hossain
14 MF Bangladesh BAN Mohammad Al Amin
15 DF Nigeria NGA Emmanuel Ariwachukwu
17 FW Bangladesh BAN Foysal Ahmed Fahim
19 FW Bangladesh BAN Arifur Rahman
20 FW Bangladesh BAN Maraz Hossain Opi
21 DF Bangladesh BAN Imran Hasan Rimon
22 GK Bangladesh BAN Shanto Kumar Ray
No. Pos. Nation Player
27 MF Bangladesh BAN Sagor Hossain
28 MF Bangladesh BAN Abu Shaeid
29 FW Bangladesh BAN Rahim Uddin
30 GK Bangladesh BAN Saiful Islam
31 GK Bangladesh BAN Emon Hawladar
32 FW Nigeria NGA Kenneth Ikechukwu
33 DF Bangladesh BAN Abid Ahmed
34 MF Bangladesh BAN Jayed Ahmed
41 DF Bangladesh BAN Tanvir Hossain
44 DF Bangladesh BAN Sabuz Hossain
55 DF Bangladesh BAN Sobug Chandra Das
88 MF Bangladesh BAN Nayan Miah

Transfers

In

No. Pos Player Transferred from Fee Date Source
4 MF Uzbekistan Sirozhiddin Rakhmatullaev Uzbekistan FK Mash'al Mubarek Free transfer 11 November 2020 [14]
8 FW Nigeria John Okoli TurkeyBandırmaspor Free transfer 11 November 2020 [15][16]
15 DF Nigeria Emmanuel Ariwachukwu Uzbekistan FK Andijon Free transfer 11 November 2020 [17]
32 FW Nigeria Kenneth Ikechukwu Cyprus Göcmenköy IYSK Free transfer 11 November 2020 [18]
6 MF Bangladesh Jamal Bhuyan India Kolkata Mohammedan End of loan 17 March 2021 [19][20]

Out

No. Pos Player Transferred to Fee Date Source
7 FW Bangladesh Jafar Iqbal Bangladesh Dhaka Mohammedan ৳150000 ($1780) 11 December 2020 [21][22]
9 FW Sierra Leone Fayia Kobba Jr. Unknown Free transfer
November 2020
11 FW Bangladesh Mehebub Hasan Nayan Bangladesh Rahmatganj MFS Free transfer October 2020 [13]
15 MF Kyrgyzstan Murolimzhon Akhmedov Kyrgyzstan FC Neftchi Kochkor-Ata Free transfer 1 August 2020
23 MF Colombia Deiner Córdoba Unknown Free transfer 1 November 2020 [23]
25 DF Bangladesh Nazmul Hossain Akondo Bangladesh Arambagh KS November 2020 October 2020 [13]
62 FW Tajikistan Jahongir Ergashev Tajikistan FK Khujand Free transfer 18 July 2020
99 FW Bangladesh Kafsut Taius Free Agent - October 2020 [13]
26 DF Bangladesh Ariful Islam Bangladesh Sheikh Jamal DC ৳5,00,000 ($5,900) 24 March 2021 [24]
– FW Bangladesh Shakib Bepary Bangladesh Dhaka Wanderers Club Free transfer January 2021

Loans out

No. Pos Player Transferred to Fee Start Date End Date Source
6 MF Bangladesh Jamal Bhuyan India Kolkata Mohammedan not disclosed 5 November 2020 17 March 2021 [25][26]
– MF Bangladesh Emon Mollah Bangladesh Uttar Baridhara Club Free December 2020 End of season
8 DF Rwanda Emery Bayisenge Rwanda A.S. Kigali $12,200 24 September 2020 End of season [27][28]
Note :

Italic names refer to the players who have transferred from the youth team.

Pre-season and friendlies

29 November 2020 Friendly Bangladesh Police FC 0–2 Saif Sporting Club Dhaka
Report
6 December 2020 Friendly Dhaka Mohammedan 1–3 Saif Sporting Club
Report
13 December 2020 Friendly Sheikh Russel KC 0–3 Saif Sporting Club
Report
10 June 2021 Friendly Muktijoddha Sangsad KC 1–1 Saif Sporting Club Dhaka

Competitions

Overview

Competition First match Last match Starting round Final position Record
Pld W D L GF GA GD Win %
BPL 16 January 2021 14 September 2021 Matchday 1 4th 24 14 2 8 48 37 +11 058.33
Federation Cup 23 December 2020 10 January 2021 Group Stage Final 6 5 0 1 15 4 +11 083.33
Independence Cup Cancelled 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0 !—
Total 30 19 2 9 63 41 +22 063.33

Last updated: 14 September 2021
Source: GSA

Federation Cup

Main article: 2020-21 Bangladesh Federation Cup

Group stage

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Saif Sporting Club 3 3 0 0 10 1 +9 9 Advance to Quarter Finals
2 Arambagh KS 3 1 0 2 4 4 0 3
3 Uttar Baridhara Club 3 2 0 1 6 5 +1 6
4 Brothers Union 3 0 0 3 1 11 −10 0
Source: Soccerway
23 December 2020 Saif Sporting Club 3-0 Uttar Baridhara Dhaka
15:15 BST Sayed 49' (o.g.)
Ikechukwu 64'
Fahim 69'		 Report Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium
Referee: Bitu Raj Barua
26 December 2020 Saif Sporting Club 6–1 Brothers Union Dhaka
20:00 BST Ikechukwu 20', 64'
Yeasin 36'
Arifur 49'
Maraz 77'
Sazzad 80'		 Report Siyo 90+3' (pen.) Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium
Referee: M. Z. F. Nahid
29 December 2020 Saif Sporting Club 1–0 Arambagh KS Dhaka
17:45 BST
Report Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium
Referee: Alomgir Sarker

Knockout phase

2 January 2021 Quarter Final Saif Sporting Club 2–2 (a.e.t.)
(7–6 p)		 Dhaka Mohammedan Dhaka
16:00 BST Ariwachukwu 7'
Ikechukwu 13'		 Report Atiquzzaman 1'
Diabate 44'		 Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium
Referee: S.M. Jashim Akter
Penalties


6 January 2021 Semi Final Chittagong Abahani 0–3 Saif SC Dhaka
16:00 BST Report
Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium
Referee: Jalal Uddin
10 January 2020 Final Saif SC 0–1 Bashundhara Kings Dhaka
16:00 BST Report
Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium
Referee: Jalal Uddin

Premier League

Main article: 2021 Bangladesh Premier League (football)

League table

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
2 Sheikh Jamal DC[a] 24 15 7 2 53 28 +25 52
3 Dhaka Abahani (Q) 24 13 8 3 65 29 +36 47 Qualification for AFC Cup qualifying play-offs
4 Saif Sporting Club 24 14 2 8 48 37 +11 44
5 Chittagong Abahani 24 13 5 6 38 28 +10 44
6 Dhaka Mohammedan 24 12 7 5 36 25 +11 43
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored.
(Q) Qualify for the AFC competition
Notes:
  1. ^ Sheikh Jamal cannot qualify for Asian Football Confederation competitions as they were not granted an AFC Cup license for 2022.[29]

Results summary

Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
24 14 2 8 48 37  +11 44 7 1 4 26 17  +9 7 1 4 22 20  +2

Last updated: 14 September 2021.
Source: Soccerway

Results by round

Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627
GroundHAHAHA-HAHHAHAHAHAH-AHAAH-A
ResultDWLWLW-WLLWWWDLLWLW-WWWWW-L
Position757555556775446767676665444
Updated to match(es) played on 14 September 2021 (2021-09-14). Source: Matches
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss; P = Postponed

Matches

18 January 2020 Round 1 Saif SC 1–1 Rahmatganj MFS Dhaka
20:00 BST
Report
  • Remi 40' soccer ball with red X 59'
    Nahidul Yellow card 90+3'
 Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium
Referee: Anisur Rahman
21 January 2021 Round 2 Dhaka Mohammedan 1–2 Saif SC Cumilla
15:00 BST
Report
  • Arifur 44'
    Okoli 45+2'
    Abid Yellow card 71'
    Rahim Uddin Yellow card 73'
    Shaeid Yellow card 85'
    Shajjad Yellow card 90'
 Referee: Mizanur Rahman
24 January 2021 Round 3 Saif SC 0–1 Chittagong Abahani Dhaka
18:00 BST
  • Rahim Yellow card 76'
    Shahedul Yellow card 90+2'
 Report
  • Nixon 24' Yellow card 49'
 Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium
Referee: Anisur Rahman
28 January 2021 Round 4 Muktijoddha Sangsad KC 1–2 Saif SC Dhaka
18:00 BST
Report
  • Emmanuel 35' Yellow card 50'
    Shahedul Yellow card 37'
    Sirozhiddin Yellow card 62' 79'
 Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium
Referee: GM Chowdhury
2 February 2021 Round 5 Saif SC 2–3 Sheikh Jamal DC Dhaka
16:00 BST
Report
  • Solomon 75' soccer ball with check mark 90+1
    Nurul Absar 76'
 Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium
Referee: Jalal Uddin
6 February 2021 Round 6 Arambagh KS 2–3 Saif SC Munshiganj
15:00 BST
  • O. Faruq 8'
    Kazi Rahad Yellow card 17'
    Shamim Reza Yellow card 48'
    B. Smith Yellow card 61'
    Ibrahim Yellow card 79'
    Chizoba soccer ball with check mark 90+3
 Report
Stadium: Munshigonj Stadium
Referee: Bituraj Barua
13 February 2021 Round 8 Saif SC 2–1 Sheikh Russel KC Dhaka
18:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium
Referee: Mizanur Rahman
16 February 2021 Round 9 Abahani Limited Dhaka 2–0 Saif SC Dhaka
15:30 BST
Report
  • Sirozhiddin Yellow card 63'
 Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium
Referee: Mizanur Rahman
20 February 2021 Round 10 Saif SC 1–2 Bashundhara Kings Dhaka
15:30 BST
Report
Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium
Referee: Bituraj Barua
24 February 2021 Round 11 Saif SC 2–1 Uttar Baridhara Club Dhaka, Bangladesh
16:00 BST
Report
  • Arif Hossain 20'
    Jintu Mia Yellow card 45+4'
    Mostafa Yellow card 59'
 Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium
Referee: Jalal Uddin
1 March 2021 Round 12 Bangladesh Police FC 1–4 Saif SC Dhaka
18:00 BST
  • Jamir Uddin 61'
 Report
Stadium: Bangladesh National Stadium
Referee: Bharat Chandra Gour
5 March 2021 Round 13 Saif SC 4–0 Brothers Union Dhaka
16:00 BST
Report Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium
Referee: Bhubon Torofdar
1 May 2021 Round 14 Rahmatganj MFS 0–0 Saif SC Dhaka
19:00 BST Report Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium
Referee: Mohammad Jalaluddin
5 May 2021 Round 15 Saif SC 1–2 Mohammedan SC Dhaka
16:00 BST
  • Maraz 69'
 Report
Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium
Referee: Anisur Rahman
8 May 2021 Round 16 Chittagong Abahani 5-2 Saif SC Dhaka
16:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium
Referee: Arisuz Rahman Sagor
11 May 2021 Round 17 Saif SC 4–1 Muktijoddha Sangsad KC Dhaka
19:00 BST
Report Alamgir Anik Yellow card 31'
Sajon Mia 44'
Mohiudeen Yellow card 52'
Royal Yellow card 64'
Y. Camara Yellow card 88'		 Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium
Referee: Jasim Akhter
15 July 2021 Round 18 Sheikh Jamal DC 3–1 Saif SC Dhaka
16:00 BST
  • Rezaul Yellow card 13'
    Monir Hossain Yellow card 37'
    Jobe 45+2'
    Otabek Validjanov 76' Yellow card 87'
 Report Okoli soccer ball with check mark 56 Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium
Referee: Bituraj Barua
19 July 2021 Round 19 Saif SC 4–3 Arambagh KS Dhaka
16:30 BST Ariwachukwu 30' Yellow card 43'
Yeasin Yellow card 48'
Rimon Yellow card 60'
Maraz 74'
Fahim 76'
Jamal 88'		 Report Abdukadyrov soccer ball with check mark 37'
Babu Yellow card 43'
Kholmurodov soccer ball with check mark 78'
Arafat Mia 84'		 Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium
Referee: Mohamad Alamgir
10 August 2021 Round 21 Sheikh Russel KC 2–4 Saif SC Dhaka
16:00 BST Mohammad Abdullah soccer ball with red X 14'
Obi Moneke 14' 63'		 Report Bablu 9' (o.g.)
Ikechukwu 27' 52'
Okoli 40'
Sirojiddin Yellow card 42'		 Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium
Referee: Mizanur Rahman
13 August 2021 Round 22 Saif SC 3–2 Abahani Limited Dhaka Dhaka
16:00 BST Ikechukwu 43' 81'
Okoli 45+2'
Riyadul Hasan Rafi Yellow card 50'
Rimon Yellow card 72'		 Report Saad Uddin Yellow card 15'
Masih Saighani Yellow card 46'
Kervens Belfort 76'
Jewel Rana 78'
Ridoy Yellow card 84'		 Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium
Referee: Mohammed Jalal Uddin
14 September 2021 Round 23 Bashundhara Kings 3–0 Saif SC Dhaka
16:00 BST (UTC+6) Eleta 54' 63'
Tariq Yellow card 70'
Robinho 80'		 Report Rafi Yellow card 17' Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium
Referee: Anisur Rahman
Note: This match was rescheduled from August to September due to Bashundhara Kings's 2021 AFC Cup group stage matches.
19 August 2021 Round 24 Uttar Baridhara Club 1–3 Saif SC Dhaka
16:00 BST
  • S. Rana Yellow card 40'
  • M. Kahraba Yellow card 64'
  • Maruf Ahmed 75'
 Report
  • Rimon Yellow card 41'

Okoli 28' Yellow card 64' 90+5'
Ikechukwu 66'
 Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium
Referee: Mahmud Zamal Farouqee Nahid
24 August 2021 Round 25 Saif SC 2–0 Police FC Dhaka
16:00 BST Fahim 29' Yellow card 60'
Ikechukwu 90'		 Report Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium
Referee: Alomgir Sarker
27 August 2021 Round 26 Brothers Union 0–1 Saif SC Dhaka
18:15 BST Ahsanur Yellow card 69'
Furqatjon Yellow card 77'
Uttom Roy Yellow card 90+3'		 Report Maraz 56' Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium
Referee: Mahmud Zamal Farouqee Nahid

Statistics

Goals

As of matches played till 14 September 2021
Rank Player Position Total BPL Federation Cup Independence Cup
1 Nigeria John Okoli MF 18 18 0 0
2 Nigeria Kenneth Ikechukwu FW 16 11 5 0
3 Bangladesh Sazzad Hossain MF 4 3 1 0
Bangladesh Yeasin Arafat DF 4 2 2 0
Bangladesh Foysal Ahmed Fahim FW 4 3 1 0
Bangladesh Maraz Hossain FW 4 3 1 0
Nigeria Emmanuel Ariwachukwu DF 4 2 2 0
8 Bangladesh Arifur Rahman FW 3 1 2 0
9 Uzbekistan Sirozhiddin Rakhmatullaev MF 2 2 0 0
10 Bangladesh Riyadul Hasan Rafi DF 1 1 0 0
Bangladesh Jamal Bhuyan MF 1 1 0 0
Own goals 2 1 1 0
Total 63 48 15 0

References

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