Booters get 5-star gift

It was all quiet at the Bangabandhu National Stadium a day after the SAFF Championship came to a fitting end with host Bangladesh lifting the coveted trophy.

The otherwise vibrant BFF office on the second floor of the all-purpose venue also looked barren as most of the officials decided to take a break after 11 hectic days.

But the celebration of George Kottan's boys that started on Monday night with a 5-3 tiebreak win against Maldives in the final continued at the Hotel Sheraton, the temporary home of the eight participating teams during the championship.

The BFF has offered the members of the national team an extended stay of three days in five-star luxury with their families.

Maldives might have lost the final in the shootout. But the booters of the tiny island nation head home on Tuesday morning with satisfying memories.

India on the other hand took the pain of being dethroned after winning the first two editions of the regional football tournament and left for Calcutta in the afternoon with a heavy heart. Bangladesh shattered India's dream of a hattrick of titles with a 2-1 win in the semifinals.

Pakistan, who kicked off the tournament with an upset 1-0 victory against India, left for Karachi last night. Starting as underdogs, Pakistan was the first team to storm into the last four. But their success ended at that point when Maldives handed them a 1-0 defeat in the other semifinal.