Dhaka – The tourist district of Cox’s Bazar is ready to host the two semifinals of the six-nation 5th Bangabandhu Gold Cup International Football Tournament beginning in on Tuesday at the new-look 12,000-capacity Birshrestha Ruhul Amin Stadium here.Unbeaten Group B champions the Philippines will play Group A runners-up Tajikistan in the first semifinal at 2:30 pm on Tuesday while Group B runners-up and hosts Bangladesh will play unbeaten Group A champions Palestine on Wednesday (Oct 10) also at 2:30 pm.
The final of the tournament will be held on Friday (Oct 12) at 6:30 pm at the country’s major sports venue — Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh team, divided in two groups, played a practice match at the stadium in the absence of head coach Jamie Day.
On the occasion of the country’s most prestigious heavyweight international football tourney after successful hosting of the SAFF Women’s championship in 2010, the stadium ground took a new look with green grasses within only 15 days.
Stadium’s gallery was renovated and well-decorated apart from few new gates.
Palestine clinched the Group A title to reach the semis with all-win record beating Tajikistan 2-0 and holders Nepal 1-0 while the Philippines emerged Group B champions also with all win-run beating Laos 3-1 and Bangladesh 1-0.
Bangladesh managed a berth in the last four stage beating Laos 1-0 after conceding 0-1 defeat against the Philippines while Tajikistan also managed semifinal berth beating Nepal 2-0 and after suffering 0-2 defeat against favourite Palestine.
Points Table after group matches:
Group A
Teams P W L D Pts
Palestine1 1 0 0 3
Tajikistan 2 1 1 0 3
Nepal 1 0 1 0 0
Group B
Teams P W L D Pts
Philippines2 2 0 06
Bangladesh 2 1 1 0 3
Laos 2 0 2 00,UNB
