Surma takes the honours in Sylhet derby

Emdad Rahman

Dakshin Surma 3-1 Sylhet Sadar

Local rivals from the Bangladeshi District of Sylhet took to the pitch to celebrate and banter during a sunny evening of competitive football at Stepney Green. 

The kick off was delayed as Sylhet Sadar launched their new kit with Mahi Uddin Ahmed, Executive Member of the Bangladesh Football Federation, former Tower Hamlets Mayor Doros Ullah and Royal Regency Director Abdul Bari all in attendance. 

Dakshin Surma took the lead early on in the game as star striker Aktar Hussain capitalised on an error to give his team the lead. Sylhet Sadar included Sporting Bengal supremo Imrul Gazi in their line up and played their best period of football to peg back their opponents. They were duly rewarded with an equaliser courtesy of a crisp finish from Abdul Khaher. 

The second half was very much a one sided affair as both teams looked tired and short of fitness. Man of the match and Stepney FC stalwart Forid Ahmed dictated play from the back to keep Sylhet on the back foot for the rest of the game. With player manager Ruhul Sikdar shoring up the midfield, Dakshin Surma went on to score two more – a conclusive and well taken brace by Anwar Hussain. 

Dakshin Surma Manager Ruhul Sikdar said, “There is great and healthy rivalry between both our teams. We may have had a delayed kick off but I think my team shaded it overall. The game was enjoyable and I learnt a lot about my players tonight.”

Sylhet Sadar Manager Imrul Gazi added, “Well done to our opponents tonight. They were just that little bit hungrier and it paid off with dividends. They deserve the bragging rights. We will up our training regime in the next fortnight and hopefully this will enable us to come back stronger.”

•Dakshin Surma (above)
Kobir – Ruhul – Forid – Kamal – Kaz – Runu – Nanu – Anwar – Aktar – Shipley – Azmal

•Sylhet Sadar (above)
Helal – Imrul -Riaz – Khaher – Tarik – Juber – Fokhrul – Yousuf – Abdul – Hasan

•Referee: Arman Ali

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