Kazi Salahuddin re-elected SAFF president [DAWN]

Sports Correspondent – DAWN 

DHAKA: Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) president Kazi Salahuddin retained his post as chief of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) on Wednesday after the elections were held during the body’s Annual Congress at Hotel Ruposhi here on Wednesday.

Salahuddin was the lone candidate for the elections as only he had submitted his nomination paper for the position.

“With the backing of four countries — Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan — Kazi Salahuddin submitted his nomination and no other candidate submitted nomination papers,” BFF general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag.

Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) president Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat and secretary Col Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi attended the Congress along with Sindh Football Association (SFA) president Syed Khadim Ali Shah — who is also the vice-president of SAFF.

For the next term — from 2014 to 2018 — Shah will be joined by Ugeyen Dorgi of Bhuthan and Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) chief Ranjith Rodrigo as vice-presidents of South Asia’s football governing body.

In the elections for the post, Rodrigo received six out of seven votes in the eight-member SAFF with Afghanistan not being present for the Congress.

Rodrigo was only elected FFSL president last year but within a very limited time frame he has gained fame through his achievements in Sri Lankan football circles.

Meanwhile, Alberto Colaco of India has asked Salahuddin not to consider him for another four-year term as general secretary.

Colaco was appointed general secretary of SAFF for the first time in 2009 and the former All India Football Federation (AIFF) general secretary wants to opt out.

“The general secretary’s post in SAFF will be an appointed one after the Congress. It is the prerogative of the SAFF president to choose the general secretary,” Colaco said.