The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sports Reporter

Bangladesh National Football team left the city yesterday for Thailand to play two practice matches against Thailand. Later, the team will reach Sri Lanka on May 31 to take part in the Fifth SAFF Championship scheduled to be held in Maldives and Sri Lanka from June 3 to June 14.

A total of eight teams splitting into two groups will take part in the prestigious football tournament for the South Asian region.

Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bhutan have been taken place in Group B while India, Maldives, Pakistan, Nepal have been billed in Group A.

Bangladesh will take on Bhutan in their opening match of Group B on June 4 in Colombo, the capital city of Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh will face Afghanistan on June 6 in Colombo.

Bangladesh will meet Sri Lanka on June 8 in Colombo.

The champions of Group A will face the runners-up of Group B in the first semifinal on June 11 in Male, the capital city of Maldives while the champions of Group B will meet the runners-up of Group A in the second semifinal in Colombo on the same day.

The winners of the two semifinals will face each other in the final on June 14 in Colombo.

The players of Bangladesh National Football team are: Aminul (captain), Biplob, Hasan Al Mamun, Wali Faisal, Ariful, Rajani, Arup, Mishu, Mofazzal, Nazrul, Sharif, Faisal Mahmud, Zahid Parvez, Mamun, Joy, Abul, Arman Aziz, Uzzal, Amily and Komol .

The officials are: Md Shafiquzzaman (Team Leader), Sheikh Md Aslam (Manager), Mohammad Abu Yousuf (Head Coach), Golam Rabbani Chatan (Assistant Coach), Dr Mahfuz Ullah Chisti (Physician), Md Mohsin (Team Staff).