Also Known as the World cup of South Asia, the history of
SAFF Championship dates back to 1993 AD when the four nations of South Asian
Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) started a regional football
tournament to strengthen football in the region. The first Championship was
held in 1993 as the “South Asian Association of regional Co-operation” Gold Cup
in Lahore, Pakistan. Only four nations India, Nepal, Sri Lanka participated
along with the hosts Pakistan. The Trophy was won by India, stamping its
position as the regional powerhouse.In 1995 the competition got another name
“South Asian Gold Cup” which was held in Sri Lanka. Though six nations agreed
to participate, Maldives later withdrew from the competition leaving only five
teams, Bangladesh being the new one joining the nations from first edition.
Hosts Sri Lanka won the Cup defeating India in the finals.
It was only after the next edition in 1997 that the
championship got a new name, now called “South Asian Football Federation”
championships. The first SAFF Cup was held in Kathmandu, Nepal. With Maldives
joining, it saw six nations competing for the title.It was India once again
winning back the championship lost two years earlier,reinstating itself as the
region’s strongest team.
The second SAFF Championships were held in Goa in April
1999. With the same six nations participating, India defended its title beating
Maldives in the finals.
Although SAFF decided to make it a biennial event, the
following years saw some difficulties and the third edition could be held only
in the year 2003, this time with all the eight nations from the region
participating, Bhutan and Afghanistan making it for the first time. The hosts
Bangladesh won the finals for the first time. It is the only time, India
haven’t reached the finals till the present edition.
The fourth SAFF Championships were held in Karachi, Pakistan
in 2005. Bangladesh and India played out the final in a repeat of the 1999
final. India came out on top again, winning the title for the fourth
time.
For the first time, the fifth edition of the Championship
was held jointly by two nations, Sri Lanka and Maldives in 2008. Though
scheduled for 2007, it had to be postponed for technical reasons. In the
finals, Maldives overcame tournament favorites and defending champions India,
to lift the title.
The sixth SAFF Championship was initially to be hosted by
India, but after a number of reasons, the tournament was hosted by Bangladesh
in 2009. India was again in the finals, this time against a well-known
opponent, Maldives. India went on to win the title in tie-breakers, winning the
championship for a record fifth time. No other country has ever won the
Championship more than once.
The seventh SAFF Championship was hosted by India in 2011.
Originally scheduled to be hosted by Orissa, the venue was later switched to
New Delhi. India rose up to the occasion once again, winning the tournament
with an emphatic victory over Afghanistan, who were into the finals for the
first time.
This time Nepal is hosting the Championship in Kathmandu
with the great hope of overcoming the misery of the Previous Edition of the
Tournaments. Nepal always known as one of the strongest team are lacking behind
in the Tournament. We hope this time Nepal will end the tournament in winning
note.
