The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh National Football team reached Colombo early Saturday by a Thai Airlines flight to participate in the eight-team 5th SAFF Championship to be held on June 3-14 in Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

The Bangladesh team is now staying in Pegasus Hotel under their owned arrangement and will be lodged with Galadari Hotel on June 2 under the arrangement of SAFF organizer.

All the members of Bangladesh team are now in sound health and did their practice this afternoon in Colombo, according to a message received here.

Bangladesh have been placed in Group B of the 5th SAFF Championship with Afghanistan, Bhutan and co-hosts Sri Lanka while Group A team comprises holders India, Pakistan, the Maldives and Nepal.

Bangladesh will start their SAFF campaign taking on Bhutan on June 4, play emerging force Afghanistan on June 6 and hosts Sri Lanka on June 8 in the group encounters.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh national football team played a preparatory match in Bangkok enroute to Sri Lanka and drew a goal-less draw with Thai professional football club Bec Tero Sasana on Friday.

Earlier, the first preparatory match of Bangladesh in Thailand against Bangkok Glass Club was washed out on Wednesday within 15 minutes without scoring any goal due to rain.

Ahead of the Sri Lanka tour, the Bangladesh national team also played two preparatory matches in Narsingdi and Dhaka.

The national side played to a goalless draw with All African Eleven in Narsingdi and beat Sporting Independent by 1-0 goal in Dhaka.