The 2007 B.League was the 31st season of top-flight football in Bangladesh, and inaugural season of the country's first professional national football league, the B.League. The competitions included a total of 11 teams from which 8 were based in Dhaka, 2 from Chittagong and 1 team from Khulna. Sylhet DSA who were supposed to represent Sylhet withrew a month before the league began and the Bangladesh Football Federation decided against replacing them.
Previously, the Dhaka Senior Division League, was the country's top-tier football competition. However, it was not held after the 2004–05 season, which ended on 12 September 2005. Consequently, before the introduction of the professional league, the country went almost 18 months without any top-tier league football. Excluding the three relegated teams (Dhaka Wanderers, Fakirerpool YMC, and Dipali JS), seven teams from the previous top-flight season, along with Rahmatganj MFS, Chittagong Mohammedan SC, Chittagong Abahani, and Khulna Abahani SC, made up the inaugural season of the professional league.
Initially the season was set to start from January 2006 as part of The Vision Asia project guided by AFC. However, after numerous delays the transfer window was opened on 15 December 2006. The ceremonial draw for the competition was held on 22 February 2007. On 28 February 2007, Channel i were given the rights to broadcast 40 matches from the league. The league kicked off on 2 March 2007, with Dhaka Abahani and Muktijoddha Sangsad KC playing out a goalless draw. The a month-long mid-season transfer window opened on 16 May 2007.
The league concluded on 1 August 2007, with Dhaka Abahani winning the inaugural season.
Teams
Initially, 12 teams were set to participate in the league; however, Sylhet DSA withdrew. The Dhaka Senior Division League, which was last held in 2004–05, served as the previous top-tier league. Excluding the three relegated clubs, the remaining seven clubs from that season, along with the 2004–05 Dhaka First Division League (second-tier from 1993 to 2005) champions, Rahmatganj MFS, were granted entry into the league. Additionally, three clubs—Chittagong Mohammedan SC, Chittagong Abahani and Khulna Abahani SC—received direct entry into the league.
Team Location Stadium CapacityDhaka AbahaniDhakaBangabandhu National Stadium 36,000Dhaka MohammedanMuktijoddha Sangsad KCRahmatganj MFSSheikh Russel KCArambagh Krira SanghaBrothers UnionFarashganj SCChittagong AbahaniChittagongM. A. Aziz Stadium 20,000Chittagong MohammedanKhulna AbahaniKhulnaKhulna District Stadium 15,000
Personnel and sponsoring Team Head coach Arambagh KS Kazi Jolly Brothers Union Syed Nayeemuddin Chittagong Abahani Sawpan Kumar Das Chittagong Mohammedan Nazrul Islam Ledu Dhaka Abahani Amalesh Sen Dhaka Mohammedan Shafiqul Islam Manik Farashganj SC Mir Mohammed Faruque Khulna Abahani Hemayet Ullah Muktijoddha Sangsad KC Abu Yusuf Rahmatganj MFS Motaleb Hossain Sheikh Russel KC Wazed Gazi
Coaching changes TeamOutgoing head coachManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming head coachDate of appointmentSourceDhaka Abahani Andres CrucianiMutual Consent7 May 20071 Amalesh Sen8 May 2007
League table
Statistics
Top scorers RankPlayerClubGoals1 Junior ObagbemiroBrothers Union162 Paul MawachukwuDhaka Mohammedan143 Christina EmekaDhaka Mohammedan12 Zahid Hasan AmeliDhaka Abahani5 Alfaz AhmedMuktijoddha Sangsad KS8 Nicodemus Anunda GichanaArambagh KS Mohamed Hedayetullah RobinFarashganj SC8 Touati YounesSheikh Russel KC79 Abraham BobbyChittagong Abahani6 Awudu IbrahimDhaka Abahani Iddi BadambuzeArambagh KS Saifur Rahman Moni Muktijoddha Sangsad KS
Own goals † Bold Club indicates winner of the match Player Club Opponent Result Date Sharif Khan Arambagh KSBrothers Union1–3 Mamun Khan Farashganj SCRahmatganj MFS1–1
Hat-tricks Player For Against Result Date Ref Paul Mawachukwu6Dhaka MohammedanRahmatganj MFS7–1 (H) Alfaz AhmedMuktijoddha Sangsad KCRahmatganj MFS4–1 (A) Junior Obagbemiro Brothers UnionRahmatganj MFS6–2 (A) Christina EmekaDhaka MohammedanChittagong Mohammedan7–0 (H) Junior Obagbemiro4 Brothers UnionKhulna Abahani5–0 (A) Zahid Hasan Ameli4Dhaka AbahaniRahmatganj MFS7–0 (A) Christina EmekaDhaka MohammedanRahmatganj MFS3–1 (A)
Awards A prize distribution ceremony was held by the Bangladesh Football Federation on 5 August 2007. Individual Award Player Club Reward Highest ScorerJunior ObagbemiroBrothers UnionTk 25,000Best PlayerZahid Hasan AmeliDhaka AbahaniTk 25,000Fair Play TrophyChittagong Mohammedan
Prize Money Position Club Prize money ChampionsDhaka AbahaniTk 5 lakhRunners-upDhaka MohammedanTk 3 lakhThird placeMuktijoddha Sangsad KCTk 2 lakhFourth placeSheikh Russel KCTk 1 lakh
References
External links
Bangladesh - List of final tables at RSSSF B. League 2006-2007 Statistics( )