Mohammedan sack Alfaz after poor run of form

Mohammedan Sporting Club on Sunday sacked head coach Alfaz Ahmed following a poor run of form that saw the club slip to seventh place in the ongoing Bangladesh Football League.

The Old Dhaka outfit, in a press release signed by director (sports) Mostakur Rahman, said the team’s recent performances had been deeply frustrating, causing disappointment among the board of directors, officials, and supporters.

“In light of the current situation and in order to improve performances, the club has decided to relieve Alfaz Ahmed of his duties,” the statement read. Assistant coach Abdul Kayum Sentu has been handed temporary charge of the team.

Alfaz said the club has struggled this season due to poor planning in the transfer window, while extending his best wishes to the new coaching staff.

“It is the club’s decision and has been made in its best interest. They feel they can do better under new coaching staff and management, and I’m absolutely fine with that,” Alfaz told The Daily Star over the phone.

“We have struggled this season because of how things were handled at the beginning, especially our activities in the transfer window. A coach alone cannot make a club champion -- he needs a complete team. The squad I had was riddled with deficiencies,” the former star striker added.

Alfaz, a former national team striker, took over as Mohammedan’s head coach in the 2022-2023 season following the departure of Sean Lane, having previously served as his assistant for three years.

Despite severe financial constraints, the 52-year-old enjoyed notable success, guiding the Motijheel-based club to their first Federation Cup title in 14 years during his first season as head coach, defeating Abahani in the final. He also led the historic 90-year-old club to their first professional league title last year, snapping the dominance of Bashundhara Kings.

However, fortunes have turned sharply this season. Mohammedan have dropped to seventh in the league standings with 11 points from 10 matches, sitting just one point above the relegation zone. Their latest setback came in a 2-1 defeat to Abahani on Friday -- their fifth league loss of the campaign.

The Black and Whites are, however, still in contention for a place in the Federation Cup quarterfinals. They play fellow strugglers Arambagh at home in Cumilla in the last group match of the Federation Cup on April 21 and a win might see them through to the last eight.