Dhaka, Sept 22 (UNB) – The glittering trophy of the six-nation 5th Bangabandhu Gold Cup International Football Tournament ceremonially unveiled at a local hotel on Saturday. 

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed graced the trophy unveiling ceremony as chief guest at a grand function at the Pan Pacific Hotel Sonargaon Hotel in the capital. 

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Shahjahan Kamal, BFF President Kazi M Salahuddin, BFF Sr Vice President Abdus Salam Murshedy MP and CEO K. Sports Fahad Karim were also present on the occasion.  

Renowned singer and parliament member Momtaj Begum rendered the theme song of the tournament in presence of the captains of the six participating teams at the function.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to be the chief in the final on October 12 at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka. 

The 12-day of the heavy weight International Football Tournament of the country beginning on October 1 at the Sylhet District Stadium and later it will also held at two other venues—Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka and Bir Shrestha Ruhul Amin Stadium in Cox’s Bazar.

Hosts Bangladesh will play Laos in the opening match on October 1 in Sylhet at 6:30 pm.

Six teams—split into two groups-- will initially compete in the first phase in Sylhet from Oct 1-6 al at 6:30 pm. 

Later, top two teams from each of two groups will play in the semifinals in Cox’s Bazar on October 9 and 10 and the final match billed for Oct 12 at Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka.

Participating teams are: 
Group A – holders Nepal, Palestine and Tajikistan   
Group B – Laos, Philippines and hosts Bangladesh.

Fixture of Group matches:
Oct 1: Bangladesh vs Laos  
Oct 2: Nepal vs Tajikistan 
Oct 3: Laos vs Philippines 
Oct 4: Tajikistan vs Palestine 
Oct 5: Bangladesh vs Philippines 
Oct 6: Palestine vs Nepal 

Meanwhile, the residential training camp of the Bangladesh team began from last Thursday in the capital.

The much-talked about custodian Shahidul Alam Sohel, who was responsible for conceding the first goal against Nepal in the just concluded SAFF Suzuki Cup Football, was not considered in the preliminary squad.

Preliminary squad of Bangladesh team: Ashraful Islam Rana, Anisur Rahman, Rasel Mahmud, Mahfuzur Rahman Pritom (Goal Keeper), Bishwanath Ghosh, Tutul Hossain Badsha, Topu Barman, Waly Faisal, Sushanta Tripura, Rahmat Miah, Nasiruddin Chowdhury, Yeasin Khan, Ariful Islam (Defender), Mamunul Islam Mamun, Atiqur Rahman Fahad, Jamal Bhuiyan, Masuk Miah Zoni, Biplo Ahmed, Emon Mahmud (Mid-Fielder), Rabiul Hasan, Jafar Iqbal, Mohammad Saaduddin, Sohel Rana, Faisal Mahmood, Mohammad Ibrahim (Winger), Mahbubur Rahman Sufil, Shakawat Hossain Rony, Nabib Newaz Jibon, Towhidul Alam Sabuz, Motin Miah and Jabed Khan (Forward).
 

Rome, Sept 22 (AP/UNB) – Sassuolo moved into second place in Serie A with a 3-1 comeback win over Empoli on Friday.

After Empoli's Francesco Caputo scored just 18 seconds in, Sassuolo responded with goals from Kevin-Prince Boateng — his third in five matches — Gianmarco Ferrari and Federico Di Francesco.

Sassuolo is two points behind Juventus, which will look to extend its perfect record at Frosinone on Sunday, and one point ahead of Spal and Napoli.

Spal visits Fiorentina on Saturday and Napoli plays at Torino on Sunday.

London, Sept 22 (AP/UNB) — Former England defender Gary Cahill, who has won every major club trophy since joining Chelsea from Bolton in 2012, is likely to ask the London team for a move in the January transfer window unless he gets back in the side.

The 32-year-old center back is out of contract at the end of the season and is yet to play under new coach Maurizio Sarri, who has led Chelsea to the top of the Premier League table with five wins from as many matches.

"I don't want to jump the gun, but as things stand at this time, probably, yes (I'll have to leave in January)," Cahill said. "For me to do this all season is going to be very difficult.

"Obviously the most important thing is the club. But I have to look at my situation. I have to take charge of my own future. And if I'm sat doing what I'm doing at this moment in time, I just hope the club will respect that when it comes to the time."

Cahill, who won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012 and the Premier League in 2015 and 2017, retired from England duty last month.

"I'm not a guy who is willing to accept not playing," he said. "Your career's short enough as it is."

Chelsea visit West Ham on Sunday.

Dhaka, Sep 21 (UNB) – Bangladesh maintained the winning spree in their Group ‘F’ qualifier campaign of the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship after routing the UAE by 7-0 goals at Bir Shrestha Shaheed Shipahi Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur on Friday.

Bangladesh took the lead in the game in the 7th minute as forward Shamsunnahar fired the net converting a penalty shot correctly, 1-0.

Another forward Anuching Mogini doubled the lead in the 27th minute by a header connecting a cross from captain Akhi Khatun, 2-0.

Anuching Mogini fired the net again by another header in the 35th minute, utilising a cross from right flank off her twin-sister defender Anai Mogini, 3-0.

Anuching completed her hat-trick, just two minutes later by a back volley found a rebounder off a defender, who tried to clear the cross off Anai, 4-0.

Visiting UAE conceded a same-side goal when midfielder Aalya Humaid tried to clear a corner attempt of Monika in the stop-gap time of the first half, 5-0.

Bangladesh found the next goal in the 71st minute with Anai’s shot from the left side of the box, 6-0.

Substitute forward Mossammat Ilamoni scored the 7th one for Bangladesh in the stop-gap time after the 90s. Ilamoni connected a ball rebounded from the goalie, who tried to clear a header attempt of Akhi Khatun off a cross of Anuching Mogini, 7-0.

After the day’s victory, the host Bangladesh secured all-win nine points from three games as earlier defeated Bahamian and Lebanon by 10-00 and by 8-0 goals respectively.

Despite wins in all three games, Bangladesh yet to confirm the second round berth of the Championship as placing the second in the table below Vietnam.

Dhaka, Sep 21 (UNB) - Bangladesh trailblazing golfer Siddikur Rahman made the cut in the purse of approximate US$ 1,355,000 Asia-Pacific Open Golf Championship Diamond Cup, sharing the 33rd after second round at Musashi Country Club Sasai Course in Japan on Friday.

The two-time Asian Tour winner Siddikur aggregated even-par 142 with a one-under-par 70 on the day and stayed eight shots behind the Japanese leader Hiroshi Iwata, who took one shot lead above his compatriot Yuta Ikeda.

Siddikur shared his place with six other golfers, moving up from joint 69th spot.