Maldives officially submits bid to host SAFF Championship 2021
The competition is set to be held in October
SAFF Championship
Maldives has officially presented it's bid to host SAFF Championship 2021.
The SAFF championship was initially set to be held in Bangladesh, from the 19th to the 30th of September. However, due to increased Covid-19 concerns in Bangladesh, the competition was postponed to 2021.
Furthermore, during the virtual meeting held between the South Asian Football Federation’s (SAFF) committee in December 2020, it was decided that the competition would be held in Bangladesh from September 14th to 25th. Yet, the worsening coronavirus conditions in Bangladesh as well as the slow progress on the search for a sponsor, Bangladesh has withdrawn from their position as the host of the next SAFF Championship.
During the most recent meeting held, on July 23rd, however, Maldives, India, and Nepal have all expressed interest in hosting the SAFF championship. It has been decided that a host will be picked at the next meeting held in August as well as the schedule for SAFF championship.
While the bidding duration concludes in July, Maldives had put in their final bid on Saturday. Following the final submission, Bassam Adeel Jaleel, the President of the Football Association of the Maldives, thanked President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih for his ongoing support for Maldives hosting international matches as well as Youth and Sports Minister Ahmed Mahloof for his participation in achieving such goals.
Previously on RaajjeTV’s “Kulhivaru File” program, Bassam Adeel Jaleel stated that the prior agenda was to integrate with Lanka in hosting the SAFF championship. While giving information to RaajjeMV, FAM’s General Secretary Hussain Jawaz stated that since only five countries will be taking part in this year’s matches, Maldives alone will bid for the position of the host.
Due to coronavirus related concerns, Bhutan has decided not to take part in this year’s competition, and due to being in FIFA suspension, Pakistan is also unable to partake.
The last SAFF championship was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in 2018 where Maldives and India made it to the finals. Maldives took home the championship that year. That was the second time that the championship was won by Maldives, the first being in 2008. The competition was held in Maldives and Sri Lanka at the time.
