BD face Bhutan in SAFF U-15 Women’s Champ today

BSS, Dhaka :
Bangladesh will start their SAFF U-15 Women’s Championship campaign when they face Bhutan in their opening match scheduled to be held today at Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Stadium in the city’s Kamalapur.
The match kicks-off at 4.30pm.
Apart from hosts Bangladesh and Bhutan, Nepal is the third team in the double league basis tournament. The top team of the table will emerge the champions.
Bangladesh will play their second match against Nepal on November 5 and play the return matches against Bhutan and Nepal on November 7 and November 11 respectively.
Bangladesh girls’ journey to the pinnacle of success in women’s football began with age level tournaments. Bangladesh achieved South Asian supremacy by winning the 2017 SAFF U-15 Football Championship. Later on these girls won the title of the SAFF Women’s championship for the first time held in September in Nepal.
Our correspondent adds: Captain Ruma Akter said, “We have not played any international match before. We want to have a good start in our first international assignment and seek prayers and support from the people.”
“Our seniors brought the trophy of the Women’s SAFF event recently and we too want to do something for our fans,” said the junior skipper.
She also said that they were not feeling any pressure. Instead, she said, “It is not a pressure for us. As we are playing at a home venue, we will definitely try to keep the trophy home. We have been going through hard practice since June and are hoping for a good result.”
Head Coach of Bhutan Ngawang Yangchen said, “Players are young, competent and enthusiastic to play the game. The level of excitement is high. I am confident and hoping to win the tournament.”
She said the regular training at the Gelephu Academy had been ongoing for almost a year, but intensive practice for the SAFF championship was held for three months.
The players are all students and had to go to school in the morning and train only after 5pm.
The U-15 skipper Kelden Wangmo, 15, said, “I am expecting to win this year’s trophy. There are only three teams with new players and there is a possibility.”
SAFF U-15 Championship has seven member countries. The two-time champions, India, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Pakistan withdrew. The Maldives has never participated in the tournament.
Bhutan hosted SAFF U-15 Championship twice in 2018 and 2019. Bhutan has a good record in the championship so far. In 2017 and 2018, Bhutan stood third. In 2019, Bhutan was fourth.
The 2020 and 2021 championships had to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.