Dhaka: The SAFF champion Bangladesh women’s football team shared their life stories with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus during a reception held in their honor. The event, hosted at the State Guest House Jamuna in the capital, celebrated the team’s recent victory and offered a platform for the players to discuss pressing issues concerning their sport.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the footballers raised several concerns related to game infrastructure, accommodation, and salary during the reception. Professor Yunus attentively listened to their demands and assured the team that these issues would be addressed on a priority basis. The Bangladesh women’s football team recently clinched the championship by defeating Nepal with a score of 2-1 in the final match of the seventh SAFF Women’s Championship held in Kathmandu on October 30.
Team captain Sabina Khatun spoke about the humble backgrounds of many players who struggle to support their families due to inadequate salaries. She highlighted t
he emotional and financial challenges faced by teammates like Maria Manda, who hails from Kalsindur village in Mymensingh. Maria, one of six players from her village, overcame the loss of her father at a young age and was raised by her mother.
Winger Krishna Rani Sarkar mentioned the difficulties regarding their accommodation in Dhaka, while midfielder Manika Chakma shared her journey to becoming a footballer in Laksmichhari, one of the most remote upazilas in the hilly Khagrachhari district. Midfielder Shopna Rani pointed out the poor infrastructure in her native Ranshonkail village in Dinajpur district.
Krishna also expressed a wish for the team to play a friendly match outside Asia, preferably with the European Champions League winners, Barcelona. In response, the chief adviser requested each player to write down their individual hopes, aspirations, struggles, and demands and share them with his office.
The reception was attended by Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud, advisers Supradip Chakma, Bidhan
Roy, and Nurjahan Begum, among others. Bangladesh women’s football team coach Peter Butler and team manager Mahmuda Akter were also present at the function.