Epyllion Group have won the sixth edition of the inter-garments football tournament "BGMEA Cup," beating Layla Group's Bando Design 3-1 in a tiebreaker.
The match ended in a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes at the Army Stadium in the capital Friday. Broadcast live on T-Sports, it went to extra time and then emotionally draining penalty shootouts.
Mid and upper management of 16 garment factories competed in the tournament.
The teams were Epyllion Group, Team Group, Tusuka Group, Babylon Group, Laila Group, Mosharaf Apparel, Apparel Village, Fakir Fashion, Comfit Composite, Sterling Group, Snowtex Outerwear, Apparel Industry, Torque Fashion, Setara Group, and Sayem Group.
Three-time champions Bando made it to the final of all the six editions of the tournament. However, one-time winner Epyllion held their nerve at the critical moments.
State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russel handed over the trophy to the winners.
Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Atiqul Islam, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan, Federation International de Football Corporate President Albert Zbily; former BGMEA presidents Abdus Salam Murshedy, Md Siddiqur Rahman, incumbent Senior Vice-President SM Mannan; vice-presidents Shahidullah Azim, Khandoker Rafiqul Islam, and Md Nasir Uddin were also present.
Rahbar Khan Sharan, who played in the fifth edition of the BGMEA Cup in 2020, earned a call-up to the national team in 2021.
The tournament was powered by Sheltech Ceramics. ABA Group, the BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology, Twelve Clothing, Urmi Group, Four H Group, Epic Group, Nipa Group, and Antrix Solutions were other sponsors.