BANGLADESH having retained their SAFF Women’s Championship title with a 2–1 victory over hosts Nepal at the Dasarath Stadiuum in Kathmandu on October 30 is, indeed, a feat to relish. Bangladesh earlier claimed the 2022 title at the same venue with a 3–1 victory over hosts Nepal. It is for the first time then a team apart from India’s clinched the title. India’s women’s team had been the winner in the previous five tournaments since the biennial tournament began in 2010, when Bangladesh hosted the event. Before 2020, the Bangladesh team became the runner-up in the 2016 tournament, which took place in India, in which India won. In the match at hand, which had a goalless first half, the pace intensified after halftime. Bangladesh struck first, cashing in on a Nepal’s defensive lapse, with Monika Chakma having found the net in the 52nd minute. Nepal’s Amisha Karki equalised four minutes later, threading the ball past the Bangladesh goalkeeper. Bangladesh regained control when Ritu Porna Chakma skilfully shot from outside the box into the goal, securing their lead and the title. All this shows the level of devotion and hard work that the girls had to put in.
The win of the women’s team sounds a heartening note and the team deserves a roaring ovation. This shows that women, generally neglected in a patriarchal society like ours, can do wonders if they are afforded the needed fillip. The women’s football team also appears to have fared better than the men’s team. Such success of women and girls are reflected in many spheres of national life. In this year’s Higher Secondary Certificate and equivalent examinations, girls have outshone the boys and this has happened for the 14th year in a row. The situation warrants that the football authorities should not rest on the laurels that the women’s football team has earned the country. The Bangladesh Football Federation should attend to the problems that women football players generally face. The football federation should put in more efforts to develop women’s football and needs to maintain the domestic circuit so that more women become interested in playing football. Just as the women’s team retained SAFF Women’s Championship title, the coach of the team, Peter Butler, has announced that he would no longer be in charge of the women’s team, although he could continue with his contract in force until December, over what he says is the non-payment of his salary for three months. Allegations have it that the players do not regularly get paid their salary and match fees.
This is heartening that women’s football team has proved its mettle, leaving men and boys need to do in terms of devotion and hard work not just in football but also in other spheres. But the football authorities should attend to prickly issues that leave women’s football and the team in poor condition.
