Don't steal her thunder: Salahuddin asks media to focus on victorious team

Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) president Kazi Salahuddin has asked media and fans to give all the focus on the SAFF Women's Championship team during a press briefing arranged at the BFF house on Tuesday, explaining his reasons for not being in Kathmandu on the match day.

The BFF president came under some criticism from a small section of media as well as some on social media for not going to Kathmandu to witness and hand over the winning trophy.

"I was torn between the thought of going there and not going there. Eventually I felt my presence there might put the girls under pressure to perform. I cancelled my ticket and informed them that I would be watching from the BFF House," Salahuddin said.

"As the president of SAFF, my duty was to hand over the trophy to the winning team, but I felt my team's wellbeing comes first before my responsibility as SAFF chief."

The four-time president of BFF and SAFF also said that despite his house being only a short distance from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, he would prefer to receive the team at the BFF house.

"Let me make it clear. There will be executive committee members of BFF present at the airport to receive the team. The sports minister will also be there," Salahuddin said. "But I know if I go there, media might look for my comments which would deprive the team of the limelight they so much deserve.

"This is the moment for these girls. They deserve all the limelight. Let's focus on them tomorrow. Don't steal her [their] thunder."