2020–21 Saif Sporting Club season

The 2020–21 season is the Saif SC's^[2] 5th season since its establishment in 2016^[3] and their 4th consecutive season in the Bangladesh Premier League after promoting in 2017.^[4][5]

Saif Sporting Club

2020–21 season
Owner	Saif Powertec Limited
Head coach	Paul Put (until 26 February) Zulfiker Mahmud Mintu (interim; from 26 February to 8 March) Stewart Hall (from 9 March to 31 July)[1] Zulfiker Mahmud Mintu (from 1 August)
Stadium	Bangabandhu National Stadium
Bangladesh Premier League	4th
Federation Cup	Final
Independence Cup	Cancelled
Top goalscorer	League: John Okoli (18) All: John Okoli (18)
Biggest win	6–1 vs Brothers Union
Biggest defeat	2–5 vs Chittagong Abahani
Home colours Away colours
← 2019–20 2021–22 →

On 16 March 2020, All sorts of sports activities in Bangladesh were postponed until 31 March as a precaution to combat the spread of coronavirus in the country, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Youth and Sports. So beginning of this season was delayed.^[6][7][8]

Season review

Pre-season

Before beginning of the season, Saif Sporting Club was looking forward to replace their head coach Drago Mamic & renew contract with team captain Jamal Bhuyan.^[9][10] Saif was also interested to replace foreign players & some local youths.^[11] Jahongir Ergashev and Murolimzhon Akhmedov already left the club to join FK Khujand and FC Neftchi respectively. On 24 September, it was announced that Emery Bayisenge joining Rwandan club AS Kigali on a one-year loan deal from Saif SC. As of a Rwandan news publisher, the transfer fee was 12 millions Rwandan franc.^[12]

On 29 October, managing director Nasiruddin Chowdhury confirmed that they’re bringing belgian coach Paul Put to replace Mamic.

On 31 October, Saif SC sent names of three players they want to let go for the 2020-21 season to BFF. The players were forward Mehebub Hasan Nayan & Kafsut Taius along with defender Nazmul Hossain Akondo.^[13]

On 11 November, the club officially announced the signing of Emmanuel Ariwachukwu, John Okoli, Kenneth Ikechukwu and Sirozhiddin Rakhmatullaev.^[14]

On 29 November, Saif SC played a pre-season friendly with Bangladesh Police FC. The match was won by 2-0 as Kenneth & John found the net.

Players

Saif Sporting Club Limited squad for 2020–21 season.

As of 19 April 2021

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  BAN Pappu Hossain 2 DF  BAN Yeasin Arafat 3 DF  BAN Rahmat Mia 4 MF  UZB Sirozhiddin Rakhmatullaev 5 DF  BAN Riyadul Hasan Rafi (Vice-captain) 6 MF  BAN Jamal Bhuyan (Captain) 8 FW  NGA John Okoli 10 MF  BAN Shahedul Alam Shahed Sr. 12 MF  BAN Sazzad Hossain 14 MF  BAN Mohammad Al Amin 15 DF  NGA Emmanuel Ariwachukwu 17 FW  BAN Foysal Ahmed Fahim 19 FW  BAN Arifur Rahman 20 FW  BAN Maraz Hossain Opi 21 DF  BAN Imran Hasan Rimon 22 GK  BAN Shanto Kumar Ray

No. Pos. Nation Player 27 MF  BAN Sagor Hossain 28 MF  BAN Abu Shaeid 29 FW  BAN Rahim Uddin 30 GK  BAN Saiful Islam 31 GK  BAN Emon Hawladar 32 FW  NGA Kenneth Ikechukwu 33 DF  BAN Abid Ahmed 34 MF  BAN Jayed Ahmed 41 DF  BAN Tanvir Hossain 44 DF  BAN Sabuz Hossain 55 DF  BAN Sobug Chandra Das 88 MF  BAN Nayan Miah

Transfers

In

No.	Pos	Player	Transferred from	Fee	Date	Source
4	MF	Sirozhiddin Rakhmatullaev	FK Mash'al Mubarek	Free transfer	11 November 2020	[14]
8	FW	John Okoli	Bandırmaspor	Free transfer	11 November 2020	[15][16]
15	DF	Emmanuel Ariwachukwu	FK Andijon	Free transfer	11 November 2020	[17]
32	FW	Kenneth Ikechukwu	Göcmenköy IYSK	Free transfer	11 November 2020	[18]
6	MF	Jamal Bhuyan	Kolkata Mohammedan	End of loan	17 March 2021	[19][20]

Out

No.	Pos	Player	Transferred to	Fee	Date	Source
7	FW	Jafar Iqbal	Dhaka Mohammedan	৳150000 ($1780)	11 December 2020	[21][22]
9	FW	Fayia Kobba Jr.	Unknown	Free transfer	November 2020
11	FW	Mehebub Hasan Nayan	Rahmatganj MFS	Free transfer	October 2020	[13]
15	MF	Murolimzhon Akhmedov	FC Neftchi Kochkor-Ata	Free transfer	1 August 2020
23	MF	Deiner Córdoba	Unknown	Free transfer	1 November 2020	[23]
25	DF	Nazmul Hossain Akondo	Arambagh KS	November 2020	October 2020	[13]
62	FW	Jahongir Ergashev	FK Khujand	Free transfer	18 July 2020
99	FW	Kafsut Taius	Free Agent	-	October 2020	[13]
26	DF	Ariful Islam	Sheikh Jamal DC	৳5,00,000 ($5,900)	24 March 2021	[24]
–	FW	Shakib Bepary	Dhaka Wanderers Club	Free transfer	January 2021

Loans out

No.	Pos	Player	Transferred to	Fee	Start Date	End Date	Source
6	MF	Jamal Bhuyan	Kolkata Mohammedan	not disclosed	5 November 2020	17 March 2021	[25][26]
–	MF	Emon Mollah	Uttar Baridhara Club	Free	December 2020	End of season
8	DF	Emery Bayisenge	A.S. Kigali	$12,200	24 September 2020	End of season	[27][28]

Note :

Italic names refer to the players who have transferred from the youth team.

Pre-season and friendlies

Bangladesh Police FC v Saif Sporting Club

29 November 2020 Friendly	Bangladesh Police FC	0–2	Saif Sporting Club	Dhaka
		Report	Kenneth John

Dhaka Mohammedan v Saif Sporting Club

6 December 2020 Friendly	Dhaka Mohammedan	1–3	Saif Sporting Club
	Souleymane	Report	Sajjad Arifur Meraj

Sheikh Russel KC v Saif Sporting Club

13 December 2020 Friendly	Sheikh Russel KC	0–3	Saif Sporting Club
		Report	Rahim Rafi Kenneth

Muktijoddha Sangsad KC v Saif Sporting Club

10 June 2021 Friendly

Muktijoddha Sangsad KC

1–1

Saif Sporting Club

Dhaka

Competitions

Overview

Competition	First match	Last match	Starting round	Final position	Record
					Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
BPL	16 January 2021	14 September 2021	Matchday 1	4th	24	14	2	8	48	37	+11	058.33
Federation Cup	23 December 2020	10 January 2021	Group Stage	Final	6	5	0	1	15	4	+11	083.33
Independence Cup	Cancelled				0	0	0	0	0	0	+0	!—
Total					30	19	2	9	63	41	+22	063.33

Last updated: 14 September 2021
Source: GSA

Federation Cup

Main article: 2020-21 Bangladesh Federation Cup

Group stage

Group B

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Saif Sporting Club	3	3	0	0	10	1	+9	9	Advance to Quarter Finals
2	Arambagh KS	3	1	0	2	4	4	0	3
3	Uttar Baridhara Club	3	2	0	1	6	5	+1	6
4	Brothers Union	3	0	0	3	1	11	−10	0

Source: Soccerway

---

Saif Sporting Club v Uttar Baridhara

23 December 2020	Saif Sporting Club	3-0	Uttar Baridhara	Dhaka
15:15 BST	Sayed 49' (o.g.) Ikechukwu 64' Fahim 69'	Report		Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium Referee: Bitu Raj Barua

Saif Sporting Club v Brothers Union

26 December 2020	Saif Sporting Club	6–1	Brothers Union	Dhaka
20:00 BST	Ikechukwu 20', 64' Yeasin 36' Arifur 49' Maraz 77' Sazzad 80'	Report	Siyo 90+3' (pen.)	Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium Referee: M. Z. F. Nahid

Saif Sporting Club v Arambagh KS

29 December 2020	Saif Sporting Club	1–0	Arambagh KS	Dhaka
17:45 BST	Arifur 56'	Report		Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium Referee: Alomgir Sarker

Knockout phase

Saif Sporting Club v Dhaka Mohammedan

2 January 2021 Quarter Final	Saif Sporting Club	2–2 (a.e.t.) (7–6 p)	Dhaka Mohammedan	Dhaka
16:00 BST	Ariwachukwu 7' Ikechukwu 13'	Report	Atiquzzaman 1' Diabate 44'	Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium Referee: S.M. Jashim Akter
	Penalties
	Ikechukwu Shahed Okoli Yeasin Ariwachukwu Rahim Rahmat Sirozhiddin		Diabate Sajib Nagata Shohag Mithu Coulidiati Bappy Atiquzzaman

Chittagong Abahani v Saif SC

6 January 2021 Semi Final	Chittagong Abahani	0–3	Saif SC	Dhaka
16:00 BST		Report	Ariwachukwu 8' Ikechukwu 71' Arafat 90'	Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium Referee: Jalal Uddin

Saif SC v Bashundhara Kings

10 January 2020 Final	Saif SC	0–1	Bashundhara Kings	Dhaka
16:00 BST		Report	Becerra 52'	Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium Referee: Jalal Uddin

Premier League

Main article: 2021 Bangladesh Premier League (football)

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
2	Sheikh Jamal DC[a]	24	15	7	2	53	28	+25	52
3	Dhaka Abahani (Q)	24	13	8	3	65	29	+36	47	Qualification for AFC Cup qualifying play-offs
4	Saif Sporting Club	24	14	2	8	48	37	+11	44
5	Chittagong Abahani	24	13	5	6	38	28	+10	44
6	Dhaka Mohammedan	24	12	7	5	36	25	+11	43

Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored.
(Q) Qualify for the AFC competition
Notes:

1. Sheikh Jamal cannot qualify for Asian Football Confederation competitions as they were not granted an AFC Cup license for 2022.^[29]

Results summary

Overall								Home						Away
Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
24	14	2	8	48	37	+11	44	7	1	4	26	17	+9	7	1	4	22	20	+2

Last updated: 14 September 2021.
Source: Soccerway

Results by round

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27
Ground	H	A	H	A	H	A	-	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	-	A	H	A	A	H	-	A
Result	D	W	L	W	L	W	-	W	L	L	W	W	W	D	L	L	W	L	W	-	W	W	W	W	W	-	L
Position	7	5	7	5	5	5	5	5	6	7	7	5	4	4	6	7	6	7	6	7	6	6	6	5	4	4	4

Updated to match(es) played on 14 September 2021 (2021-09-14). Source: Matches
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss; P = Postponed

Matches

Saif SC v Rahmatganj MFS

18 January 2021 Round 1	Saif SC	1–1	Rahmatganj MFS	Dhaka
20:00 BST	Okoli 18' Yeasin  73'	Report	Remi 40' 59' Nahidul  90+3'	Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium Referee: Anisur Rahman

Dhaka Mohammedan v Saif SC

21 January 2021 Round 2	Dhaka Mohammedan	1–2	Saif SC	Cumilla
15:00 BST	Sohag  34'	Report	Arifur 44' Okoli 45+2' Abid  71' Rahim Uddin  73' Shaeid  85' Shajjad  90'	Referee: Mizanur Rahman

Saif SC v Chittagong Abahani

24 January 2021 Round 3	Saif SC	0–1	Chittagong Abahani	Dhaka
18:00 BST	Rahim  76' Shahedul  90+2'	Report	Nixon 24'  49'	Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium Referee: Anisur Rahman

Muktijoddha Sangsad KC v Saif SC

28 January 2021 Round 4	Muktijoddha Sangsad KC	1–2	Saif SC	Dhaka
18:00 BST	Akbarali 25' Bekamenga  50' Sajon  73'	Report	Emmanuel 35'  50' Shahedul  37' Sirozhiddin  62' 79'	Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium Referee: GM Chowdhury

Saif SC v Sheikh Jamal DC

2 February 2021 Round 5	Saif SC	2–3	Sheikh Jamal DC	Dhaka
16:00 BST	Foysal Fahim 22' John Okoli 45+3' Ikechukwu  84'	Report	Solomon 75' 90+1 Nurul Absar 76'	Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium Referee: Jalal Uddin

Arambagh KS v Saif SC

6 February 2021 Round 6	Arambagh KS	2–3	Saif SC	Munshiganj
15:00 BST	O. Faruq 8' Kazi Rahad  17' Shamim Reza  48' B. Smith  61' Ibrahim  79' Chizoba 90+3	Report	Ikechukwu 6' 59' Rafi  50' Sabuz  66' Shajjad 69'	Stadium: Munshigonj Stadium Referee: Bituraj Barua

Saif SC v Sheikh Russel KC

13 February 2021 Round 8	Saif SC	2–1	Sheikh Russel KC	Dhaka
18:00 BST	Shaeid  35' Ikechukwu  55' Riyadul 57' Sirozhiddin 74'	Report	Saiful 20' (o.g.)	Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium Referee: Mizanur Rahman

Abahani Limited Dhaka v Saif SC

16 February 2021 Round 9	Abahani Limited Dhaka	2–0	Saif SC	Dhaka
15:30 BST	Raihan  47' Raphael 53' Belfort 66' Shahidul  76'	Report	Sirozhiddin  63'	Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium Referee: Mizanur Rahman

Saif SC v Bashundhara Kings

20 February 2021 Round 10	Saif SC	1–2	Bashundhara Kings	Dhaka
15:30 BST	Riyadul  15' Okoli 18'  38' Rahmat  71'	Report	Sabuz 33'  52' Robinho 37' Sushanto  48' Fernansdes  90+1'	Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium Referee: Bituraj Barua

Saif SC v Uttar Baridhara Club

24 February 2021 Round 11	Saif SC	2–1	Uttar Baridhara Club	Dhaka, Bangladesh
16:00 BST	Okoli 44' Shajjad 88'	Report	Arif Hossain 20' Jintu Mia  45+4' Mostafa  59'	Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium Referee: Jalal Uddin

Bangladesh Police FC v Saif SC

1 March 2021 Round 12	Bangladesh Police FC	1–4	Saif SC	Dhaka
18:00 BST	Jamir Uddin 61'	Report	Riyadul  39' Ikechukwu 44' Okoli 45+2' 87' Sirozhiddin  89' Shajjad 90+4'	Stadium: Bangladesh National Stadium Referee: Bharat Chandra Gour

Saif SC v Brothers Union

5 March 2021 Round 13	Saif SC	4–0	Brothers Union	Dhaka
16:00 BST	Yeasin 1' Ikechukwu 19' Foysal Fahim  22' Okoli 72' 84'	Report		Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium Referee: Bhubon Torofdar

Rahmatganj MFS v Saif SC

1 May 2021 Round 14	Rahmatganj MFS	0–0	Saif SC	Dhaka
19:00 BST		Report		Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium Referee: Mohammad Jalaluddin

Saif SC v Mohammedan SC

5 May 2021 Round 15	Saif SC	1–2	Mohammedan SC	Dhaka
16:00 BST	Maraz 69'	Report	Y. Ouatching 52' Diabate 83'	Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium Referee: Anisur Rahman

Chittagong Abahani v Saif SC

8 May 2021 Round 16	Chittagong Abahani	5-2	Saif SC	Dhaka
16:00 BST	Rakib 18' 47'  30' Nasirul  45' Nixon 49' Brossou 64' Mannaf 82'	Report	Okoli 27' (pen.) 68' Jamal  53' Shajjad  78'	Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium Referee: Arisuz Rahman Sagor

Saif SC v Muktijoddha Sangsad KC

11 May 2021 Round 17	Saif SC	4–1	Muktijoddha Sangsad KC	Dhaka
19:00 BST	Okoli 11' 23' Ikechukwu 45+1' Yeasin 77'  78' Rakhmatullaev  86'	Report	Alamgir Anik  31' Sajon Mia 44' Mohiudeen  52' Royal  64' Y. Camara  88'	Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium Referee: Jasim Akhter

Sheikh Jamal DC v Saif SC

15 July 2021 Round 18	Sheikh Jamal DC	3–1	Saif SC	Dhaka
16:00 BST	Rezaul  13' Monir Hossain  37' Jobe 45+2' Otabek Validjanov 76'  87'	Report	Okoli 56	Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium Referee: Bituraj Barua

Saif SC v Arambagh KS

19 July 2021 Round 19	Saif SC	4–3	Arambagh KS	Dhaka
16:30 BST	Ariwachukwu 30'  43' Yeasin  48' Rimon  60' Maraz 74' Fahim 76' Jamal 88'	Report	Abdukadyrov 37' Babu  43' Kholmurodov 78' Arafat Mia 84'	Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium Referee: Mohamad Alamgir

Sheikh Russel KC v Saif SC

10 August 2021 Round 21	Sheikh Russel KC	2–4	Saif SC	Dhaka
16:00 BST	Mohammad Abdullah 14' Obi Moneke 14' 63'	Report	Bablu 9' (o.g.) Ikechukwu 27' 52' Okoli 40' Sirojiddin  42'	Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium Referee: Mizanur Rahman

Saif SC v Abahani Limited Dhaka

13 August 2021 Round 22	Saif SC	3–2	Abahani Limited Dhaka	Dhaka
16:00 BST	Ikechukwu 43' 81' Okoli 45+2' Riyadul Hasan Rafi  50' Rimon  72'	Report	Saad Uddin  15' Masih Saighani  46' Kervens Belfort 76' Jewel Rana 78' Ridoy  84'	Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium Referee: Mohammed Jalal Uddin

Bashundhara Kings v Saif SC

14 September 2021 Round 23	Bashundhara Kings	3–0	Saif SC	Dhaka
16:00 BST (UTC+6)	Eleta 54' 63' Tariq  70' Robinho 80'	Report	Rafi  17'	Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium Referee: Anisur Rahman
Note: This match was rescheduled from August to September due to Bashundhara Kings's 2021 AFC Cup group stage matches.

Uttar Baridhara Club v Saif SC

19 August 2021 Round 24	Uttar Baridhara Club	1–3	Saif SC	Dhaka
16:00 BST	S. Rana  40' M. Kahraba  64' Maruf Ahmed 75'	Report	Rimon  41' Okoli 28'  64' 90+5' Ikechukwu 66'	Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium Referee: Mahmud Zamal Farouqee Nahid

Saif SC v Police FC

24 August 2021 Round 25	Saif SC	2–0	Police FC	Dhaka
16:00 BST	Fahim 29'  60' Ikechukwu 90'	Report		Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium Referee: Alomgir Sarker

Brothers Union v Saif SC

27 August 2021 Round 26	Brothers Union	0–1	Saif SC	Dhaka
18:15 BST	Ahsanur  69' Furqatjon  77' Uttom Roy  90+3'	Report	Maraz 56'	Stadium: Bangabandhu National Stadium Referee: Mahmud Zamal Farouqee Nahid

Statistics

Goals

As of matches played till 14 September 2021

Rank	Player	Position	Total	BPL	Federation Cup	Independence Cup
1	John Okoli	MF	18	18	0	0
2	Kenneth Ikechukwu	FW	16	11	5	0
3	Sazzad Hossain	MF	4	3	1	0
	Yeasin Arafat	DF	4	2	2	0
	Foysal Ahmed Fahim	FW	4	3	1	0
	Maraz Hossain	FW	4	3	1	0
	Emmanuel Ariwachukwu	DF	4	2	2	0
8	Arifur Rahman	FW	3	1	2	0
9	Sirozhiddin Rakhmatullaev	MF	2	2	0	0
10	Riyadul Hasan Rafi	DF	1	1	0	0
	Jamal Bhuyan	MF	1	1	0	0
Own goals			2	1	1	0
Total			63	48	15	0