Kings clinched the title defeating the high-flying Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society by 2-1 goals in the final. With the feat, Kings have stored all the domestic cups in their shelf -- the season’s curtain raiser soccer meet Bangladesh Federation Cup, the top tier professional football league Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and Independence Cup. They became only the third Bangladeshi club after Dhaka Abahani Limited and Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra Limited to secure all the three domestic titles.
Among them, only Sheikh Russel KC completed the treble clinching all the three domestic titles in the season 2012-13. The 25-year old football club clinched their first major title beating Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club by 2-1 goals in the final of 25th Federation Cup Football. They again beat Sheikh Jamal DC by 3-2 goals in the final of Independence Cup to bag their second title of the season and completed the treble emerging the champions of Grameenphone Bangladesh Premier league 2012-13. Kings, which secured Fed Cup title, have the chance to touch the milestone securing two titles in the upcoming BPL football and Independence Cup.
Bashundhara Kings came into the spotlight clinching the title of Marcel Bangladesh Championship League 2017, the second tier of the professional football league, in their maiden appearance. Kings secured 35 points with 10 wins, 3 defeats and 5 draws from 18 matches.
With the feat, Kings got promoted to BPL 2018–19 alongwith BCL Runners-up NoFeL Sporting Club. Kings also got the chance to take part in the Bangladesh Federation Cup’2018. Despite displaying amazing performance in the season’s curtain raiser, Kings narrowly missed the title and finished runners-up. The unbeaten finalists conceded their first defeat against holders Dhaka Abahani in the final.
But they bounced back quicklky. Kings took sweet revenge defeating Dhaka Abahani in the tie-breaker of the nail-biting second semifinal of Independence Cup’2018. After that, Kings secured their first major title beating former champions Sheikh Russel KC by 2-1 goals in the final of the meet.
Kings emerged as the new powerhouses of domestic football securing the country’s most prestigious professional football league title BPL 2018–19. To clinch the title, they earned 63 points with 20 wins, 3 draws and 1 defeat from 24 matches. With the feat, Kings also confirmed a spot in the group stage of AFC Cup 2020.
The BPL Champions, who dominated the whole domestic season, failed to prove their worth in the Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup’2019. It was their first ever participation in any international competition. They were eliminated from the group stage after conceding after two defeats. Kings, which put in Group B, started their mission conceding 1-3 goals defeat against the historical Durand Cup Champions Gokulam Kerala FC of India. They bounced back in the race beating current I-League Champions Chennai City FC by 3-2 goals but lost to Terengganu Football Club of Malaysia by 2-4 goals in the last group match.
Bashundhara Kings have been placed in the Group E (South Zone) of the upcoming AFC Cup 2020 that is scheduled to begin on February. The BPL Champions will play against TC Sports of Maldives, one of the two Indian clubs -- Chennai City FC or FC Goa and the winners of South Asia Zone play-offs.
Five teams will compete in the South Asia Zone play-offs to confirm their spots in the four-team Group E (South Zone). BPL runners-up Dhaka Abahani Limited, Indian Super League champions Bengaluru Football Club, former Dhivehi (Maldives) Premier League champions Maziya Sports and Recreation Club, Bhutan Premier League champions Paro Football Club and Sri Lanka Champions League champions Defenders Football Club.
Kings will play their first group match of AFC Cup 2020 against Dhivehi Premier League Champions TC Sports Club of Maldives on January 11.
Ahead of the campaign, Bashundhara Kings will hold a preparation camp including some practice matches against one or two foreign clubs.
Bashundhara Kings President Imrul Hasan said, “We have decided to arrange one or two away practice match against foreign clubs. We haven’t confirmed the teams and venues yet. Indian or Maldivian football clubs are our first choices for the practice matches.”
Bashundhara Kings made a step forward in women’s football. They decided to take part in the 3rd Women’s Football League beginning from January 31 at the Bir Sreshtho Shaheed Sipahi Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur after around a seven-year break.
Kings will compete against former champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Limited, Sheikh Russell Krira Chakra, FC Uttarbanga and Anwara Sporting Club.
The players transfer registration of the league will be held from January 11 to 26.
Confirming it, Imrul said, “We have already made a draft of our women’s team. We have included 10 to 11 national players in the squad.”
Earlier, Dhaka Mohammedan Limited emerged champions in the last edition of league in 2013 beating Dhaka Abahani Limited while Sheikh Jamal DC clinched the title in the first edition in 2011 beating Dhaka Mohammedan.