Kingsley scores on historic ‘debut’

Bangladesh football witnessed a piece of history yesterday when Eleta Kingsley became the first naturalised footballer to play as a Bangladeshi in a Bangladesh Premier League fixture between Bashundhara Kings and Rahmatganj Sporting Club.

The 31-year-old striker, who has been playing in Bangladesh for a decade now and has settled here after marrying a Banglaldeshi woman, recently acquired a Banglaldeshi passport, making himself eligible to play as a local player.

The Nigerian-born striker was drafted in the starting eleven of champions Bashundhara Kings as the league resumed following a break of a month-and-a-half.

Kingsley, who had last played in a professional match last year for Arambagh KS, made the occasion all the more memorable with the opening goal -- a glancing header on a cross from Jonathan Edwards on 29 minutes as the league leaders won the game 2-1 at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. The win took the defending champions to 46 points from 16 matches.

Rahmatganj, starting the match in ninth position with 14 points, equalised through Christ Remi's placing shot from the top of the box 10 minutes later but Kings finished the first half with a one-goal lead, thanks to Raul Becerra's header on a curling free-kick from Jonathan.

Kingsley was one of three players taken off at the hour-mark as Bashundhara Kings looked in control but a straight red card to second-half substitute Tariq Kazi in the 87th minute for a foul-mouthed tirade at the referee gave them a few nervy moments towards the end.

Six-time champions Abahani will take on arch-rivals Mohammedan in the last game of the 16th round today.