Following Maldives’ snub, Sri Lanka and Nepal will probably be Bangladesh’s last hope for the sixth and final slot of the Bangabandhu Gold Cup International Football, slated for the middle of next month.
The Football Association of Maldives informed the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) last Monday that they will not be able to participate in the tournament due to internal issues lingering in its governing body.
Maldives were invited to the tournament as Pakistan’s replacement. It is mentionable that Pakistan also refused to take part citing unavoidable circumstances.
BFF general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag admitted the latest development. “We have started communicating with the sub-continental teams and Nepal and Sri Lanka are among them. Myanmar are also in the list. However, nothing has been finalised yet. We will confirm the sixth team within a few days. All we can confirm right now is that the Bangabandhu Gold Cup International Football will be a six-team event,” said Shohag, adding that Bahrain, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand have so far confirmed their participation.
The Bangabandhu Gold Cup International Football is seeing light after a five-year hiatus. The tournament will get underway on January 16 simultaneously in Dhaka and Sylhet with the final scheduled for January 27. Following several requests by the BFF, the National Sports Council officials visited the Sylhet stadium to initiate the renovation procedure. Increasing the illuminance in both the venues will be a major task. At least 1200 Lux is required but at the moment it is well below the required standard. Apart from the floodlights, the dressing rooms, media facilities, washrooms, fencing and seating arrangements for the VIP guests are the other areas that also require renovation work, especially in Sylhet.
Shohag though said everything will be completed on time. “We have enough time in our hands. If proper workforce is implemented, I think all the problems will be resolved. We have been provided the assurance from the government.”