FSL keen to host 2023 SAFF Tourney
Football Sri Lanka (FSL) will present their initial bid to host the 2023 SAFF Football Championship at the SAFF Executive Committee Meeting on October 17 in the Maldives. Bangladesh and India are also set to present their proposals to host the 14th SAFF Championship but FSL President Umar Jaswar said he is confident of winning the bid ahead of the other countries.
Jaswar further said that they have already received the blessings and the green light from the Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa to host this regional event in Colombo. Sri Lanka first hosted the SAFF Football Championship in 1995 and thereafter, they were the joint hosts of the 2008 tournament along with the Maldives.
India and Bangladesh have hosted the tournament on three occasions each. FSL will be represented by its President Jaswar along with Vice-President Ranjith Rodrigo and Secretary Upali Hewage at the SAFF Executive Committee Meeting.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka will play their last group match of the 2021 SAFF Football Tournament when they take on the defending champions Maldives at the National Stadium in Maldives today. This game should turn out to be a blockbuster and a full house is expected with all tickets already sold out.
However, Sri Lanka have been already knocked-out from the final after having lost two games to Bangladesh (0-1) and Nepal (2-3) while their match previous against India ended in a 0-0 draw.
This match will also mark the end of services for Head Coach Amir Alagic, who will take over a new post as FSL Technical Director following the conclusion of this tournament. Sri Lanka played five internationals but failed to register a single victory under the guidance of Alagic, who received a monthly salary of over US $5,000.