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Fortis FC are hoping to make the most of home conditions when they take on Kyrgyzstan’s Muras United in their historic debut in the AFC Challenge League next week.
The Bangladesh Premier League’s third-placed side earned a place in the continental competition after league champions Bashundhara Kings and runners-up Dhaka Abahani were barred from participating due to FIFA sanctions.
While Bangladesh Police FC, who finished fourth in the league, will travel to Jordan for their fixture, Fortis will host Muras United at the Kings Arena on August 11.
Fortis have deliberately scheduled the match to kick off at 3:00 pm instead of the usual evening slot in an attempt to take advantage of Dhaka’s hot and humid weather. The visiting Kyrgyz club, from a country with a much cooler climate, is expected to arrive in Dhaka on August 9.
“We fixed the kick-off at 3:00 pm to make the most of our home advantage. The heat could make things uncomfortable for them,” Fortis head coach Masud Parvez Kaisar said.
Despite the expected weather advantage, Kaisar acknowledged that Muras United are better prepared, as the Kyrgyz league is currently in progress while Bangladesh’s domestic season has yet to begin.
“Their players are already match-fit, and they have much greater experience in international competitions,” he said.
AFC Challenge League regulations place no restrictions on registering or fielding foreign players. Fortis have therefore included eight foreign footballers in training as they strengthen their squad for both the continental campaign and the upcoming domestic league season.
“This is our first opportunity to compete in an international tournament. The management has done everything possible to prepare the team, bringing in foreign players not only for this match but also for the league,” Kaisar added.