More records on Kings’ agenda

Bashundhara Kings will look to make history by winning the professional football league four times in a row as the Bangladesh Premier League resumes today following a six-week midseason break for the transfer window and international engagements.

At the end of the first-phase, leaders Kings are nine points clear of closest rivals Abahani, which is a record gap since the inception of the professional football league in 2007.

When Kings entered the top flight in the 2018-19 season, the biggest gap between first and second place at the midseason point in any prior season was four points. Abahani had led Sheikh Jamal by that margin in 2009-10 while Muktijoddha Sangsad had four more points than Mohammedan in 2010-11.

Interestingly, Kings maintained that gap by going four points clear of nearest rivals Abahani at the midseason mark in their debut season before widening that gap to eight points against nearest rivals Sheikh Jamal in their second season at the same point of the season. In that second season, they ultimately finished 13 points clear of runners-up Sheikh Jamal.

However, Kings were challenged in their third season as Abahani refused to go away. They were leading by four points at the midway point, but their lead against second-placed Abahani ballooned to 10 points by the end of the season, securing a hattrick of titles.

In the past, only two teams have overcome a deficit to lift the title. Abahani have done so thrice, overcoming gaps of one or two points, while Sheikh Jamal once recovered from a four-point deficit to win the title. But this time, six-time champions Abahani and three-time champions Sheikh Jamal are a long way away from the unstoppable Kings, who are on a roll with 10 straight wins. They have 30 points followed by Abahani's 21, Bangladesh Police's 16 and Sheikh Jamal's 14.

Today, Kings will meet newcomers Azampur FC Uttar at the Rofiqe Uddin Bhuiyan Staidium in Mymensingh.