SAFF

Bangladesh, India in same group in two SAFF events

Bangladesh will play against defending champions India in the group stages of two SAFF age-level tournaments for boys which will be held in September in Nepal and Bhutan.

Can others dare play catch-up with India?  

India re-evaluated themselves against skilled Asian teams, having repelled Lebanon in similar fashion in the semi-finals, but what will the rest of the South Asian participating nations take away from the tournament? From here on, how do they gauge their standards relative to India’s ever-accelerating progress?

Heartbreak leaves booters speechless

Before taking to the ground for the warm-up session at the Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru ahead of the SAFF Championship semifinal against Kuwait, Bangladesh right-back Bishwanath Ghosh announced that he would distribute Tk 5 lakh among his teammates as a bonus if they could make it to the final for the first time in 18 years.

Booters settle in Bengaluru after immigration, hotel hassles

The Bangladesh football team players are ready to have their first training session in Bengaluru this afternoon following an unexpected issue on their arrival in India.

‘Challenging but semi berth would be fantastic’

Rajani Kanta Barman is a bright star in the country’s footballing sky, having captained Bangladesh in their maiden SAFF Championship title in 2003 – the only one till date. Rajani was also part of the Bangladesh team that bagged gold in 1999 South Asian Games. The ever-reliable defender called time as a professional footballer in 2016 and was involved in a brief coaching stint afterwards. In an exclusive interview with Sabbir Hossain of The Daily Star, Rajani looked back on the successful 2003 campaign, gave his views on the current state of the national team, and what the upcoming SAFF Championship might have in store for Bangladesh. The excerpts are as follows:  

2023 SAFF CHAMPIONSHIP / Unmatched thrill awaits

The passion and excitement that the South Asian Football Championship and its precursor, the South Asian Games football event, used to evoke has somewhat faded over the last two decades.

Salahuddin’s dream comes true

Kazi Salahuddin, the four-time president of South Asian Football Federation (SAFF), has had his long-cherished dream fulfilled as the SAFF Club Championship is finally taking shape.

It’s time now for sports to stop seeing gender

Why do female sportspeople have to prove themselves “worthy” of the support their male counterparts can take for granted?

‘No pressure’ for boys in red and green

Bangladesh coach Paul Smalley anticipates a closely contested affair as his charges are up against hosts India in the SAFF U-20 Championship final, scheduled to take place at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar tonight at BST 7:30pm.

July 22, 2023
July 22, 2023

Bangladesh, India in same group in two SAFF events

Bangladesh will play against defending champions India in the group stages of two SAFF age-level tournaments for boys which will be held in September in Nepal and Bhutan.

July 15, 2023
July 15, 2023

Can others dare play catch-up with India?  

India re-evaluated themselves against skilled Asian teams, having repelled Lebanon in similar fashion in the semi-finals, but what will the rest of the South Asian participating nations take away from the tournament? From here on, how do they gauge their standards relative to India’s ever-accelerating progress?

July 2, 2023
July 2, 2023

Heartbreak leaves booters speechless

Before taking to the ground for the warm-up session at the Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru ahead of the SAFF Championship semifinal against Kuwait, Bangladesh right-back Bishwanath Ghosh announced that he would distribute Tk 5 lakh among his teammates as a bonus if they could make it to the final for the first time in 18 years.

June 18, 2023
June 18, 2023

Booters settle in Bengaluru after immigration, hotel hassles

The Bangladesh football team players are ready to have their first training session in Bengaluru this afternoon following an unexpected issue on their arrival in India.

June 17, 2023
June 17, 2023

‘Challenging but semi berth would be fantastic’

Rajani Kanta Barman is a bright star in the country’s footballing sky, having captained Bangladesh in their maiden SAFF Championship title in 2003 – the only one till date. Rajani was also part of the Bangladesh team that bagged gold in 1999 South Asian Games. The ever-reliable defender called time as a professional footballer in 2016 and was involved in a brief coaching stint afterwards. In an exclusive interview with Sabbir Hossain of The Daily Star, Rajani looked back on the successful 2003 campaign, gave his views on the current state of the national team, and what the upcoming SAFF Championship might have in store for Bangladesh. The excerpts are as follows:  

June 17, 2023
June 17, 2023

Unmatched thrill awaits

The passion and excitement that the South Asian Football Championship and its precursor, the South Asian Games football event, used to evoke has somewhat faded over the last two decades.

May 6, 2023
May 6, 2023

Salahuddin’s dream comes true

Kazi Salahuddin, the four-time president of South Asian Football Federation (SAFF), has had his long-cherished dream fulfilled as the SAFF Club Championship is finally taking shape.

September 20, 2022
September 20, 2022

It’s time now for sports to stop seeing gender

Why do female sportspeople have to prove themselves “worthy” of the support their male counterparts can take for granted?

August 5, 2022
August 5, 2022

‘No pressure’ for boys in red and green

Bangladesh coach Paul Smalley anticipates a closely contested affair as his charges are up against hosts India in the SAFF U-20 Championship final, scheduled to take place at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar tonight at BST 7:30pm.

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