Special five-a- side football from today

The First South Asian Special Olympics 5-a-side Football Tournament gets underway today at the Army Stadium with six teams from four nations taking part.
Two teams each from hosts Bangladesh and India, and one each Nepal and Pakistan, split into two groups, will play the round-robin basis tournament before the top two teams advances to the final which will be held on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to declare the U-16 meet open with the match between Bangladesh-A and India-A at the Army Stadium while the rest of the matches will take place at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan ground.
“Our athletes brought laurels to the nation winning medals in different world games since 1995 and through the continuation of those success, we have earned the right to host the 5-a-side football tournament,” said Special Olympics of Bangladesh chairman Dr. Shamim Motin Chowdhury at a press conference at the NSC conference room yesterday.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh disabled football team won gold medal in 11-a-side football thrashing Spain 11-1 in Special Olympics World Summer Games at Athens in July 2011.
Chief executive officer of Special Olympics Faruqul Islam informed that India have already arrived here while Nepal and Pakistan are scheduled to arrive today.
Grouping of the tournament would be decided today after the managers' meeting, added Faruqul.