Winning the second SAFF Championship will open more doors for Bangladeshi women footballers

On By Karl





Friday, 1 November 2024 18:30 Last update date: Friday, 1 November 2024 18:30

After winning the SAFF Women’s Championship for the second consecutive time, the Bangladesh women’s football team needs no further proof of their worth. PHOTO: PRABIR DAS

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After winning the SAFF Women’s Championship for the second consecutive time, the Bangladesh women’s football team needs no further proof of their worth. PHOTO: PRABIR DAS

Mutual goals were equal until the 80th minute. Up to this point, both Bangladesh and Nepal have fought brilliantly; but after Nepal equalized they began to pose more of a threat in the attacking third. Sabitra Bhandari’s two strikes exposed Bangladesh’s deteriorating physicality, but somehow they held on. Then a quick throw-in changed everything.

Ritu Porna Chakma received the ball well from the left wing and quickly maneuvered past the Nepali defender to throw the ball over three players and the goalkeeper. When the kick left his foot, it felt as if time had stopped. The ball passed Anjila Subba and hit the net, out of her reach. The entire stadium fell silent except for the visiting team’s dugout. Here, the winning goal, it was a magnificent goal.

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Bangladesh came to the SAFF Women’s Championship as the defending champions. After a draw with Pakistan, they convincingly defeated SAFF powerhouse India with a score of 3-1. In the semi-finals, Tohura Khatun’s hattrick and Sabina Khatun’s brace secured an impressive 7-1 win, a rematch of the previous season’s final against hosts Nepal.

No team other than India has won the competition let alone twice. This victory came at a critical time when Bangladesh was undergoing political and systemic reform. With young leader Asif Mahmud at the forefront as youth and sports advisor in the interim government, each major victory reinforces the case for female athletes to be given the respect and funding they deserve to further their development.

Either way, our women’s team doesn’t need any more proof of their worth. Over the years they have shown resilience and talent. But this is not a perfectly oiled machine. There are many inconsistencies, shortcomings and missed opportunities to capitalize on growth. These stem from the Bangladesh Football Federation’s inability to function effectively due to systemic corruption.

They were promised improvements and fair resource allocation in 2022, when the women’s team became champions for the first time. However, these promises were not kept and the resources never arrived. When the team had the chance to play in the Olympic qualifiers, former BFF secretary-general Abu Nayeem Shohag claimed there was not enough budget for their trip to Myanmar. It was disheartening that in a country with so little achievement in sport, we were willing to give up on the hard work of these women due to mismanaged funds. To make matters worse, in 2023, FIFA banned Abu Nayeem Shohag and others for illegal conduct, failure to fulfill their duties and falsifying accounts. The question remains: Were these officials not at all ashamed when they refused to give the women’s team this opportunity due to the federation’s own fraud? Is it really so low priority for our female team that they don’t get any respect or empathy for their hard work?

Ritu Porna Chakma’s ‘shut up’ voice to the crowd was a round of applause to all those who belittled her and the Bangladesh women’s football team. PHOTO: BFF

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Ritu Porna Chakma’s ‘shut up’ voice to the crowd was a round of applause to all those who belittled her and the Bangladesh women’s football team. PHOTO: BFF

There is no denying that our current crop of players have been passed down from generation to generation in South Asia and with a little support they have unlimited potential. The general mentality regarding women’s football has also improved in the region. Unlike 20 years ago, when some people were protesting on religious grounds for the women’s team playing against a team from West Bengal, there is now genuine appreciation and pride.

Another reason why this final was important was that it showed the collective strength of a united country. Many players come from Indigenous backgrounds and it is vital to remember that minority communities contribute greatly to the country. Maybe that’s why Ritu’s celebration is appropriate. His “silence” to the crowd could easily be interpreted as a response to those who fail to see their own worth. If it weren’t for them, this final could easily have ended Nepal’s way. This championship gives us the chance to start fresh and develop all aspects of women’s sport, ensuring no community is left behind.

So how do we move forward? What’s the next step to ensure we don’t fall down the same broken path again? First of all, we need to pay these players their outstanding salaries. Yes, Bangladesh can boast of being a pioneer in women’s sports, with the highest player salaries in South Asia, but what’s the real point of that if they’re not getting paid? Fortunately, the government said steps have been taken to clear the dues. Secondly, we need to rethink the system where large lump sums are rewarded only when players win major tournaments. Bonuses are good and justified, but a stable, systematic funding process is essential. This will allow for growth in the game, better infrastructure and improved academies to create a sustainable pathway for professional development. Most importantly, we need experienced coaches who can develop different areas of the team in sub-branches of sports. Organizing more international friendlies is equally important. We have played almost no international matches since 2022 and this lack of visibility is evident when we face teams outside South Asia.

There is a lot we need to do if we want to take our women’s team to the next level. Systematic changes in BFF’s fund management, resource allocation and transparency are crucial to improving our sports department. Too many talented young people have given up on their dreams and too many players are tired of being failed by the system. There will be no progress unless we fulfill our promises. Our women’s team has never deserved to be a footnote; It’s time to give them a permanent place in the headlines.

And to the Bangladesh women’s team and staff: Thank you for making us dream again.

Raiyan Binte Rafiq He is a sports columnist for The Daily Star. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree while working freelance at INDIVISA. He also manages recruitment at Bangladesh-based Next Level Sports Management.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author.

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