Sports Reporter :
The draw ceremony of SAFF Championship was held at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the city on Wednesday.
President of BFF and President of SAFF Kazi Md Salahuddin, Regional Country Manager of Maruti Suzuki Seije Hamda, Senior Vice-President of BFF Abdus Salam Murshedy, Vice-President of BFF Kazi Nabil Ahmed, Vice-President of BFF Mohiuddin Ahmed Mohi, Members of BFF Fazlur Rahman Babul, Shawkat Ali Khan Jahangir, Iqbal Hossain, Zakir Hossain Chowdhury were present at the draw ceremony. A press conference was also held marking the draw ceremony.
General Secretary of SAFF Anwarul Haque Helal conducted the draw ceremony.
A total of seven teams splitting into two groups will take part in the SAFF Championship. Hosts Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan have been billed in Group-A, while defending champions India, Maldives, Sri Lanka have been taken place in Group-B.
SAFF Championship, the most prestigious football meet of this region will be held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) from September 4 to September 15.
The first phase of SAFF Championship will be held on Single League basis.
The champions of the Group-A will take on the runners-up of the Group-B in the first semi-final on September 12, while the champions of the Group-B will face the runners-up of the Group-A in the second semi-final on the same day.
The winners of the two semi-finals will face each other in the final on September 15. the winning team of the final will be the champions of the gala extravaganza.
President of SAFF Kazi Md Salahuddin said, ” Afghanistan showed their interest to play in the SAFF Championship. But the Executive Committee of SAFF was not interested to include their name in this year’s tournament.”
Salahuddin said, ” The complications of flood light of BNS will be solved soon. It will take maximum two weeks.”
He said, ” Our team always hope to play in the final. I expect that Bangladesh will play in the final in their home soil.”
He said, ” We have arranged all kind of facilities to the players of Bangladesh National Football team. So, it is not true that we have not gave them opportunities.”
Kazi Nabil Ahmed said, ” Bangladesh National Football team have been practicing for three months. Bangladesh played a FIFA International Friendly match against Laos recently. Bangladesh played two practice matches against two clubs of Thailand. Bangladesh team took part in the conditioning camp in Qatar recently. So, I think that absence of coach will not be a matter for us. We shall appoint a new Head Coach as soon as possible.”
