Saif Sporting Club have released Wedson Anselme and Hember Valencia Olaya as the newcomers of top-tier football are trying to boost their squad ahead of the AFC Cup preliminary round to be played later this month.

The newcomers of the Bangladesh Premier League, who are set to finish either third or fourth in the league standings, will host TS Sports of Maldives on January 23 before playing away on January 30 in the preliminary round, which is the round prior to the playoffs.

The club already registered their players with the Asian Football Confederation, with the notable omissions of Wedson and Hember.

Both the foreign forwards failed to justify their inclusion. Haitian marksman Wedson, one of the most lethal strikers in Bangladesh's domestic circuit over the last few years, scored only two goals in seven appearances for the club as he struggled with his performance all through. Colombian Olaya, despite scoring five goals in 16 appearances, has been dogged by injuries.

The newcomers have replaced the two with Mohammedan's on-form striker Kingsley Chigozie and their former midfielder Andres Cordovato, with Englishman Charlie Sheringham already in the squad. The club also borrowed eight players from Chittagong Abahani for the AFC Cup campaign, it has been learnt.

The club also already recruited AFC A-licensed coach Maruful Haque as their coaching advisor. This is the first time the Bashundhara area based club will take part in the continental club competition, having played just a single season in the country's top-flight football.