BFF to bid for 2017 SAFF

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) is likely to bid for the 2017 SAFF Championship when the executive committee of the South Asian Football Federation sit for a meeting in Kerala on January 2 at the sidelines of this year's championship.

“We are thinking positively about bidding for the next SAFF Championship, but the final decision about it will be taken after the BFF president returns home,” said BFF' general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag yesterday. 

Bangladesh had earlier hosted the regional football extravaganza in 2003 and 2009.

SAFF general secretary Anwarul Haque Helel informed that the agenda for the meeting of the executive committee will be to select the host nations for the 2017 SAFF Championship and the 2016 Women's SAFF Championship.

“We have not received any official bid from any countries to host either of the two events. However, Bhutan has verbally informed us about its interest in hosting the 2017 SAFF Championship. Sri Lanka are also interested to host the championship,” said Helal yesterday at his office at the BFF House yesterday.

As per the contract between sponsors World Sports Group and the SAFF, India will host the men's championship in every alternative edition. Since the upcoming edition is being held in India, the next one will go to one of the seven other member countries.

It has been learnt that Bangladesh will be the main contender for hosting the 2017 edition if it doesn't bid for the 2016 Women's SAFF Championship.  Bangladesh had hosted the inaugural edition of women's championship in 2010.