Bancroft FC lift Friendship Cup 2018

Muhammad Ismael

Bancroft FC have lifted the 2018 Sonali Othith Friendship Cup. Bancroft faced Sonali Othith in the final, having already drawn with the golden veterans in the group stages.

The Stepney Football Club development squad emerged out of the shadows of their illustrious senior team to make an impact as a force of their own en route to their march to an exciting final played in the shadow of Canary Wharf at Millwall Park.

With local football legend Repon Chowdhury refereeing the final, Sorwar Alam’s men wrapped up a comprehensive display – scoring first after a short ball from keeper Mohsin Ahmed to Abdul Muktadir was squared to Mofozzul Ali, who in turn released Mamun Rashid. The marauding full back played a neat one two with Fozzlul Hoque before delivering for Mosthak Chowdhury to bundle home the ball.

Lokuj Jaman and Sorwar Alam linked up well and the player manager almost doubled the lead just after the break. Midway through the second half a jinking run from Monsur Alam released Emdad Rahman, who was able to drive into the penalty area and square for Khairul Alam to tap home the clincher and record a new name on the prestigious list of Friendship Cup Winners.

After Khoyrul Islam presented the man of the match award to Khairul Alam, it was left to Bethnal Green Councillor Mohammed Ahbab Hossain to present the winners’ trophy to Bancroft captain Emdad Rahman, who said, “The boys were under no illusion that we were taking the day off to win the tournament and played each game perfectly to achieve this. We are winners, we were hungry throughout.”

Sonali Othith Chair Jamal Uddin commented, “We are committed to engaging our communities and harnessing and pooling our positive energy through football. It’s been glorious weather today and the football has been tremendous too. More importantly, the spirit of friendship has been observed impeccably. We are proud to have hosted another great community event.”

Bancroft manager Sorwar Alam added, “I bought this team together at the eleventh hour. Most of us have never trained together, let alone play. I threw them in the mix and explained that they all had reputations of being winners and I expected them to play a certain way. Thanks to our fluid style of play and our gelling together we were the only team to be able to play the full squad in each game. Well done to the boys and a special thanks to Sonali Othith for this tremendous cup competition.”

Bancroft FC – 2018 Sonali Othith Friendship Cup winners
Sorwar Alam
Khairul Alam
Monsur Alam
Lokuj Jaman
Mohsin Ahmed
Mamun Rashid
Emdad Rahman
Fozzlul Hoque
Abdul Muktadir
Mosthak Chowdhury
Mofozzul Ali

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