SAFF

SAFF Women's Championship / Champions Bangladesh to begin against Pakistan

All the matches will take place at the Dasrath Stadium in Kathmandu, where Bangladesh won their first regional title of Women's SAFF, beating the hosts 3-1 in the final of the last edition in 2022.

Promises aplenty as SAFF U20 champions return home

“They are very talented. I firmly believe they will represent Bangladesh national team in future,” said Bangladesh Under-20 team coach Maruful Haque after returning home. 

U-20s look for back-to-back wins

Bangladesh are looking forward to back-to-back wins in the SAFF U-20 Championship when they take on hosts Nepal in Group A’s decisive match at the ANFA Complex in Lalitpur, Nepal today.

Nepal to host SAFF Women's Championship in October 

The regional women's football extravaganza will be held from October 17-30 at Dashrath Stadium in Kathmandu. 

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:  

September 2, 2024
September 2, 2024

Champions Bangladesh to begin against Pakistan

All the matches will take place at the Dasrath Stadium in Kathmandu, where Bangladesh won their first regional title of Women's SAFF, beating the hosts 3-1 in the final of the last edition in 2022.

August 29, 2024
August 29, 2024

Promises aplenty as SAFF U20 champions return home

“They are very talented. I firmly believe they will represent Bangladesh national team in future,” said Bangladesh Under-20 team coach Maruful Haque after returning home. 

August 22, 2024
August 22, 2024

U-20s look for back-to-back wins

Bangladesh are looking forward to back-to-back wins in the SAFF U-20 Championship when they take on hosts Nepal in Group A’s decisive match at the ANFA Complex in Lalitpur, Nepal today.

June 3, 2024
June 3, 2024

Nepal to host SAFF Women's Championship in October 

The regional women's football extravaganza will be held from October 17-30 at Dashrath Stadium in Kathmandu. 

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.