Campaign of Bangabandhu Gold Cup kicks off
Friday, 16 January 2015
The official campaign of the six-nation Bangabandhu Gold Cup International Football Tournament- 2015 began Thursday at Hotel Sonargaon with the unveiling of tournament's logo and announcement of groupings amid huge enthusiasm among the football fans, reports UNB.
National teams of Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and host Bangladesh alongside the Under-23 Olympic team of Bahrain and Singapore will compete in the 3rd version of the FIFA and AFC approved Bangabandhu Gold Cup- 2015 slated for January 29 to February 8 in Dhaka and Sylhet.
Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, also chairman of the Tournament Organising Committee, unveiled the tournament's logo at a swarming ceremony Thursday, accompanied by SAFF and BFF President Kazi M Salahuddin.
Tournament's groupings were announced at the function with hosts Bangladesh putting in Group A along with Malaysia (AFC ranking 28) and Sri Lanka (36) while Group B team consists of Bahrain (12), Thailand (23) and Singapore (30).
The finance minister in his speech recalled the past glory of country's football, including the memory of renowned Agha Khan Football, and said, "I'll do everything for successfully holding the ensuing Bangabandhu Gold Cup."
BFF President Kazi Salahuddin said, "We want to be the champions, but our first target is to reach the semifinal."
Kazi Salahuddin further informed that grouping of the Bangabandhu Gold Cup Football was finalised amicably in Melbourne last week in the presence of the representatives of six participating countries.
Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports Arif Khan Joy, BFF Senior Vice- President Abdus Salam Murshedy, Vice-president Badal Roy, member Shamsul Haque Chowdhury, MP, Managing Director of Channel 9 Enayetur Rahman Bappi, President and MD of AB Bank Shamim Ahmed Chowdhury, CEO and MD of National Bank Shamsul Huda Khan, and CEO and MD of Modhumoti Bank Mizanur Rahman, among others, were present.