A total of six countries including Malaysia, Singapore, Bahrain, Laos, Thailand and hosts Bangladesh are likely to take part in the much-anticipated Bangabandhu Gold Cup Football which is expected to kick off at the end of December this year.
It seems Bangladesh football is likely to experience a hectic international schedule by the end of this year as, according to Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) president Kazi Salahuddin, Japan have also confirmed their interest to send their Olympic football team to play two friendly matches against Bangladesh in mid-December.
The BFF’s initial plan was to organise the international football tournament in the first week of October. However, having failed to confirm the schedule of the participating teams, uncertainty grew centering around the tournament and doubts started to surface if it would take place this year.
Salahuddin, however, is certain about holding the international event at the end of this year. While talking to the media at his office at the BFF House yesterday, the BFF chief also said two venues – Sylhet and Dhaka – are likely to host the tournament.
“Malaysia, Singapore, Bahrain, Laos, Thailand and Bangladesh will play in the tournament. We want to start the tournament at the end of December and conclude it by the first week of January. The plan is to hold the matches of the two groups (three teams in each group) in two different venues in Sylhet and Dhaka,” said the BFF supremo.
Group matches involving Bangladesh are likely to be played in Sylhet while the other group matches will take place at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. The two semifinals will be held in two different venues. The BFF is now chalking out the budget of the tournament which is expected to last for eight-nine days.
The last time the football federation hosted an international event all by itself was the same Bangabandhu Gold Cup back in 1999. Since then the football federation has hosted many international events, but they were all affiliated with Fifa, Afc or Saff.
Meanwhile, Salahuddin also confirmed that Japan are interested to send their Olympic football team to Bangladesh on December 10 to play two friendly matches following an invitation sent by the BFF boss early last month.
“I just talked to them a few minutes ago. They are interested to play friendly matches against us. They want to send their Olympic football team on December 10. They will stay for a week to play two friendlies,” said Salahuddin yesterday.
