Hosts Bangladesh have been pitted against Malaysia and Sri Lanka in Group A for the upcoming Bangabandhu Cup football tournament, scheduled to be held from January 29 to February 8 at Dhaka and Sylhet. Thailand, Singapore Under-23 and Bahrain Under-23 teams will battle it out in Group B, Bangladesh Football Federation announced it on Thursday while unveiling the logo of the tournament.
According to the BFF president Kazi Salahuddin, the groups had been decided during the AFC Annual Congress in Melbourne unanimously with the consent from all the participating nations.
‘We finalised the groups in Melbourne after discussing with the all participating countries,’ Salahuddin said.
The third edition of the competition will kick-off with the match between hosts Bangladesh and Malaysia at the Sylhet District Stadium.
‘We choose Sylhet as a venue because we saw thousands of football fans witnessed the friendly match between Bangladesh Under-23 and Nepal Under-23 teams.
‘Initially we found some problems with the venue but the sports ministry has already renovated the stadium,’ added the BFF president.
Salahuddin hoped that Bangladesh will make at least make it to the semi-finals at least after the draw.
‘Personally I want Bangladesh to become champions but the reality is different. But I would like to see my team battling at least in the last four,’ he said.
Finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhit unveiled the logo of the Cup and promised to give all kind of assistance to BFF to facilitate hosting the tournament successfully.
‘BFF’s initiative should be appreciated and we will do everything to make the event successful,’ said Muhit.
Muhit, who agreed to become the chairman of the organising committee, ensured that the government will take all the necessary steps to raise the funds for the tournament.
‘We have a vast experience to organise such international events. We successfully hosted the South Asian Games in 2010 and that time we took some steps to raise the fund. We will take similar step this time,’ he added.
Some financial organisations have already come forward to sponsor the event with Arab Bangladesh Bank agreeing to provide Tk 5 crore as presenting partner. National Bank, Beximco Group, Ha-Meem Group and Modhumoti Bank have been named as co-sponsors.
-With New Age input
