Super Cup-winning Abahani captain Pranotosh Kumar (L) and goalkeeper Shahedul Alam Sohel (next to him) are being greeted with bouquets by their young fans at the club tent yesterday.Photo: STAR

Goalkeeper Shahedul Alam Sohel, hero of Abahani's Super Cup triumph, spent a sleepless night on Saturday after putting up a heroic performance in the final to help Abahani end the season on a high.
The 20-year old goalkeeper received a lot of congratulatory phone calls from the people back in his neighbouring area in Patenga and wished him for luck for the future.
“I could not sleep last night due to the excitement for winning the Cup,” Sohel said. “My friends, who usually support Mohammedan, turned Abahani fans for the final because of me. I will remember this day for long.”
Sohel, who was given a place in the starting eleven following injuries to first-choice keeper Mazharul Islam Himel and the next in line Ziaur Rahman, put a brave effort for second successive match, saving two attempts from shootout to help Abahani to their first Super Cup triumph.
No less excited was the veteran Abahani captain Pranotosh Kumar, for whom it was a crowing finale to a season that started on the right foot. Under his leadership, Abahani won three trophies this season including the latest one, which endured him a sleepless night too.
“I was very tensed before the final as it was a big match. The win took its toll on me as I spent a sleepless night. But I am in no mood to complain about a sleepless night. In fact it was a memorable night for me and I cannot express my in words,” said Prantosh, who have been playing for Abahani since 2002 except for a one-year gap in 2005.
Meanwhile, a day after the win, the club tent took a festive look last evening after the iftar where the club officials, the former and current players came with garlands and bouquets to greet the triumphant side.
Abahani manager Satyajit Das Rupu informed that the club will be awarding the players Tk 25 lakh as bonus while director Kazi Nabil Ahmed announced another Tk 5 lakh from his account for the players and coaching staff.
“We are happy with the performance throughout the season, as we started with winning two trophies and finished too on a high by winning the Super Cup,” said Rupu.
Meanwhile buoyed by their success, the Dhanmondi outfit are already taking initiatives to reorganise the squad in a bid to regain the professional league. They have already made sure they would retain the services of most of their players who were players in the starting eleven in the concluding season.
It has also been learnt that Abahani are set to sign up Sheikh Jamal's defenders Sujan, Wali Faisal, Nasirul Islam, winger Zahid Hossain and striker Enamul Haq and Muktijoddha Sangsad's midfielder Arman Aziz.
Besides, the Sky Blues retained the services of Himel, Zia, Linkon, Siraji, Nazrul, Mamun Mia, Pranotosh, Chomrin Rakhaine, Imtiaz Sultan Jitu, Shakawat Hossain Ronny and Mohammad Robin.
But amidst all that celebration and rejuvenation of spirit, there is a sad tune too, which is that the hero of Saturday's match Sohel will most likely not be wearing the Sky Blue jersey in the next season.
“I have decided to leave Abahani as the club has confirmed the services of Himel and Zia after the completion of the Bangladesh League while my contract was not renewed. I want to play for a club where I can play in the regular eleven and build my career as I desire to go far,” said Sohel, who joined Abahani in 2009-10 season from the first division side Badda Jagarony.
Sohel was blamed for a couple of Abahani's defeats in the league and the 20-year old goalkeeper was determined to prove his doubters wrong, and grabbed the opportunity in the semifinal and final. Now that Sohel has done that successfully, Abahani officials are reportedly trying to make him change his mind.