The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) will announce a 20-member final squad today (Monday) for the 5th SAFF Championship to be held June 3-14 in Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

The BFF will pick up the final squad from 28 booters, initially selected on March 22, for a residential training camp at the BKSP in Savar under its new coach and former national defender Mohammad Abu Yousuf.

In the 5th SAFF Championship, Bangladesh have been placed in Group B with Afghanistan, Bhutan and co-host Sri Lanka. Bangladesh will play Bhutan on June 4, Afghanistan on June 6 and hosts Sri Lanka on June 8.

Bangladesh team is expected to leave here Tuesday (May 27) for Thailand en route to Sri Lanka to play two preparation matches in Bangkok on May 28 and 30.

Meanwhile, national football team played two preparation matches here ahead of the SAFF championship.

In the first practice match at the Narsingdi Stadium on Thursday, the Bangladesh national side played to a 1-1 draw with All African XI with Abul Hossain scoring the lone goal for Abu Yousuf's men.

In the second preparation match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Saturday, the national team, riding on a Emily goal, earned a face-saving 1-0 victory over Sporting Independent, a team that comprised leading local players now outside the national side.

Preliminary squad: Aminul Haque, Biplob Bhatachariya, Ziaur Rahman Zia, Hasan Al Mamun, Wali Faisal, Ariful Islam, Rajani Kanta Barman, Arup Kumar Baddya, Atiqur Rahman Mishu, Mahmudul Hasan, Kazi Mozammel Hossain Saikat, Zahirul Islam, Arman Aziz, Enamul Haq Sharif, Maruf Ahmed, Zumratul Hossain Mithu, Faisal Mahmud, Zahid Hossain, Zahid Pervez Chowdhury, Zumratul Hossain Mithu, Mohammad Kabir Hossain, Mobarak Hossain Bhuiyan, Kollal Kumar Ghosh Zuku, Mamunul Islam Mamun, Mehdi Hasan Ujjal, Abul Hossain, Mohammad Robin, Zahid Hasan Ameli and Abdul Baten Majumder Komol.

Officials: Team leader- Mohammad Shafiquzzaman, Manager-Sheikh Mohammad Aslam, Coach - Mohammad Abu Yousuf, Assistant coach- Golam Rabbani Chotan, Physio -Dr Mahfuzullah Chisty