Chittagong Abahani
- Alias
- Abahani Chittagong
- Leagues Played
- Bangladesh Premier League 168 Bangladesh Federation Cup 25 Bangladesh Independence Cup 13
- Links
- Wikipedia
Results
Chittagong Abahani v
Stats
| Total | Home | Away | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matches played | 20 | 9 | 11 |
| Wins | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Draws | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Losses | 19 | 8 | 11 |
| Goals for | 7 | 3 | 4 |
| Goals against | 59 | 25 | 34 |
| Clean sheets | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Failed to score | 14 | 6 | 8 |
Wikipedia - Chittagong Abahani Limited
Chittagong Abahani Limited (Bengali: চট্টগ্রাম আবাহনী লিমিটেড), also spelled as Chattogram Abahani or Chittagong Abahoni, is a sports club based in Chittagong, Bangladesh. A wing of Abahani Limited was established at Chittagong in 1980, known as Chittagong Abahani. It is one of the most successful football clubs in the country. It currently competes in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), the top tier of Bangladeshi football.
The team was relegated from the BPL in the 2010–11 season. It regained promotion to the BPL by becoming champion of the 2013 Bangladesh Championship League. The club host Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup, a bi-annual tournament in memory of their founder, Sheikh Kamal. They won the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2015. The club won their first major domestic trophy in 2016 by winning the 2016 Independence Cup under the guidance of Slovak coach Jozef Pavlik. Chittagong Abahani had a fierce rivalry with Chittagong Mohammedan earlier in Chittagong Premier League and later in Bangladesh Premier League.
History
1980–2000: Beginning
In the late 1970s, Didarul Alam Chowdhury was inspired by the Dhaka-based club Abahani Limited Dhaka. He is a football organizer from Chittagong. Didarul wanted to establish a wing of Abahani in Chittagong for the betterment of Sports in Chittagong. He convened a meeting with other local organizers on 10 October 1980. With the meeting, Chittagong Abahani officially started its journey.
Iqbal Khan, popular footballer of Chittagong and father of national cricketers Tamim Iqbal & Nafees Iqbal, played a vital role in Chittagong Abahani's inception. He also played for Chittagong Abahani. Chittagong Abahani won their first-ever Chittagong League title under his captaincy.
2000–2014: Journey at top level
Chittagong Abahani qualified for the 2000-01 National Football League after being crowned the 1999 Chittagong League title. The team finished 3rd in the inaugural season under coach Abu Yusuf. In 2001-02 National Football League, Ctg Abahani finished in the Super Four once again. Chittagong Abahani also became runners-up twice in the Chittagong League during 2000s.
In 2007, Bangladesh Football Federation started B. League (now Bangladesh Premier League), country's first professional football league. Chittagong Abahani was one of the founding teams of the league. After struggling in the first three seasons, Ctg Abahani relegated to Bangladesh Championship League in 2010–11 season.
The port city outfit finished at the bottom in their first BCL season. However, there was no relegation system for second tier in that time which saved the team from demotion. The Blue Pirates made a strong comeback in next season becoming Champion of 2013-14 BCL & came back to top tier. Chittagong Abahani finished at 9th in 2014-15 BPL, their returning season to top tier.
2015–present: Beginning of the revolutionary era
In November 2014, Tarafder Ruhul Amin of Saif Powertec Limited became chairman of Chittagong Abahani Directorial Board. Saif Powertec Limited becomes new sponsor of Chittagong Abahani.
In 2015, Chittagong Abahani organised inaugural edition of Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup at M. A. Aziz Stadium, Chittagong before the 2015-16 domestic season. It was the first international club tournament at Chittagong since 1982. Chittagong Abahani won the tournament beating Kolkata giant East Bengal in final. The huge attendance of the final broke all the recent records. The port city outfit gave their arrival message as a rising giant with this tournament.
In May 2016, Chittagong Abahani won 2016 Independence Cup under their first ever foreign coach Jozef Pavlik. It was the first domestic major trophy of the club history. Chittagong Abahani finished at 2nd in 2016 BPL, their best result ever. They signed Bangladesh national team Captain Mamunul Islam, Bhutan international Chencho Gyeltshen, former Haiti international Fabrice Noel & Leonel Saint Preux for this season.
Chittagong Abahani also become runners-up of 2017 Independence Cup, 2017 Federation Cup & finished 3rd in 2017-18 BPL. However, the Blue Pirates performed down in 2018–19 season as they knocked out from both tournaments in quarterfinal & obtained 8th position in the league.
Maruful Haque era
The club competes in the Bangladesh Premier League and has a rich history of achievements, including multiple league titles and domestic cup victories. Chittagong Abahani is renowned for its commitment to developing local talent, often featuring a mix of seasoned players and promising youngsters who showcase their skills on the field.
The team's home ground, the MA Aziz Stadium, is a hub of excitement during match days, where fans gather to cheer for their beloved team. With a strong emphasis on teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship, Chittagong Abahani continues to strive for excellence, aiming to elevate Bangladeshi football on both national and international stages. The club's dedication to the sport and its community makes it a cornerstone of Chittagong's rich sporting culture.