Bangladesh National Women’s Football team, now in Kathmandu to compete in the SAFF Women's Championship 2024, made their first training session at ANFA ground from 8 am to 9:30 am on Wednesday. The seven- nation women's regional soccer meet will be held at the Dashrath Rangasala (Stadium) in Nepalese capital Kathmandu from October 17-30 with two arch-rival India and Pakistan playing each other in the inaugural match on Thursday (Oct 17) In the day's training session, holders Bangladesh Women's team worked on tactical drills and fine-tuned their strategies in the day's practice session to defend their regional soccer crown. Int’l Women’s Football: Bangladesh makes flying start in two-match series outplaying hosts Bhutan 5-1 Later, Bangladesh and six other participating teams addressed the official press conference at the Imperial Crown Hotel and also took part in the official photo session in the afternoon. In the day's press conference, head coaches and captains of all the seven teams expressed their eagerness to showcase their talent in upcoming prestigious tournament. Head coach of Bangladesh team Peter Butler and captain Sabina Khatun addressed the  day's press conference. Bangladesh, which was placed in three-team Group A of the seven -nation meet India and Pakistan while four-team Group B consists of Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan and the hosts Nepal. Bangladesh, the champions of 2022, will start their campaign taking on Pakistan on October 20 at 5:45 pm while they will face five times champions India on October 23 at the same time and same venue.

Captain of the new SAFF Women’s champions, Bangladesh’s Sabina Khatun, wants to keep entertaining the football-crazy fans of Bangladesh and also win more trophies in the future. She was speaking at BFF’s official press conference to welcome back the triumphant Bangladesh team from the SAFF Women’s Championship 2022 in Nepal. By the time Sabina got the mic, night had fallen. She had just come off the euphoric high of an open-top bus parade through the city, for the country to welcome back its heroines in a befitting manner.  The scene at the BFF premises was chaotic, and the captain, as well as the highest goalscorer, and not to mention the best player of the tournament award winner, must have been tired, finally. In World Cup terms - she won the Golden Boot, the Golden Ball, and lifted the trophy.  State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russell MP, BFF and SAFF President Kazi Salahuddin, BFF Senior vice president Abdus Salam Murshedy MP, Chairman of the BFF Women's Football Committee Mahfuza Akhter Kiron, Head coach of Women's football team Golam Rabbani Chotan, among others, also addressed the press conference.  Sabina expressed her gratitude to the 160 million people of Bangladesh for giving them such a historic reception and providing all-out support. "We are staying at the BFF camp together for the last four to five years, BFF President Kazi Salauddin told us to work hard to achieve success. We did that with the support of BFF and other authorities concerned, and at the end of the day we got the desired result," Sabina added. Head Coach Golam Rabbani Choton said "Our turning point was the start of the countrywide talent hunt program, then came long-term training camp in 2016. From there we were then optimistic of reaping the fruit when the girls would turn to 19-20 years old."   "It wouldn’t have been possible for us to be the champions without the continuous support of BFF, the hard work of the players,” he acknowledged. But he was keener to point out: “Our team won its first SAFF Women's trophy playing dominating football all throughout." He is absolutely right of course. It’s a fact that has somewhat faded behind the euphoria of the first championship - it is how brilliantly the girls played. Most people would have seen only the final - where it was clear that from the very first minute, Bangladesh were looking to attack, and did - winning a corner.  Once they went ahead, they didn’t even sit back - they kept looking for a second. Except for maybe a cagey 20-minute period in the second half that ended with Nepal pulling one back, Bangladesh were clearly the better side. The fact that it was being played in Kathmandu,  seemed to be lost on our Tigresses.  All three goals were beautifully executed combining technical skill and footballing vision. Actually, this has been nurtured in this generation of footballers by their participation in the steady progress made through the age groups in South Asia since the middle of the last decade - Choton is right.  He has bred a generation of women footballers who press like demons, a team that moves forward working in neat triangles throughout the pitch, and with emphasis on technique from the first touch. The girls grew up idealising ‘tiki-taka’.  Let’s not forget, their goal record from the tournament was an incredible 23 scored to 1 against. BFF President Kazi Salahuddin, who received the team at the BFF office Wednesday evening, gave all credit to the players and team management for their success. “After winning the SAFF trophy, our next target is to play in the Asean and Asian level with teams like Thailand, Korea and Japan,” he said.  Earlier, the Bangladesh team was accorded a grand reception on arrival at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka from Kathmandu Wednesday afternoon. The Tigresses earned the dream title for the first time beating five-times runners-up and hosts Nepal 3-1 in the final in Kathmandu Monday evening. Bangladesh broke the complete domination of India through previous editions of the tournament - winning all five. Before the final, we knew the 6th edition would produce the first champion outside India, the regional giant.  And it turned out to be Bangladesh, and deservingly so. Everybody has been dazzled by their play in this tournament. It even won the Fair Play Award - as if any more proof were needed of their clean, beautiful brand of football.  India had been confronted earlier - and ruthlessly disposed of, 3-0, in the group phase. That game itself seemed to symbolise the end of an era. And the Bangladeshi girls did it themselves, shattering the confidence of their potentially most formidable rival, who came second in the group and were eliminated in the semifinal. Also read: SAFF Women's Champs: Bangladesh captain Sabina Khatun wins highest scorer, best player awards

Rangpur's daughter Sirat Jahan Shopna, member of the Bangladesh women's football team, has made its residents proud with her role in the team clinching the title in the seven-nation SAFF Women's Championship. Those who once mocked Shopna for her dream to become a footballer are now overjoyed with her success.  In fact, the whole district is now overwhelmed for Shopna from Palichora village of Sadyapuskarini Union, over historical triumph against Nepal in the tournament's final. In this tournament, Bangladesh beat India 3-0 with Shopna scoring a pair of goals. She scored one goal against Pakistan. In the final, Shopna was withdrawn due to injury soon after the kick-off. In all, she scored four goals in this tournament. Shopna’s mother Lipi Begum used to get angry with her for her interest in football. Later, she surrendered to the girl's indomitable will and encouraged her daughter to fulfil her dream. Lipi said Shopna grew interest in playing football when she was in class four. “My brother Abdul Latif took Shopna to groom her to be a footballer and since then she is moving towards her dream.” Shopna's father Moksar Ali, a farmer, is also overwhelmed with his daughter's success. He said, “I feel very happy. The Bangladesh women's football team won today and my daughter played in it.” He also sought the people’s prayers so that she can do something better for the country. Fans and journalists are thronging Shopna’s home to congratulate her parents. Milon Khan, the coach of the newly formed Youth Sporting Club of the union, said this village is a village of women footballers. “This is the first time that one of our daughter Shopna earned fame by winning the SAFF Championship. We have plans to give her a grand reception,” he added. Bangladesh national women's team reached Dhaka around 1:50 pm today. After completion of the airport formalities, the heroes of Bangladesh boarded a newly shaped and well-decorated open deck BRTC bus at about 3:30 pm for the BFF office in Motijheel from the airport. Along the way, they were greeted by thousands of jubilant fans. On Monday, Bangladesh defeated Nepal 3-1 in the final match, with Shamsunnahar scoring the game's first goal in the 13th minute. Krishna Rani Sarkar scored the final two goals for Bangladesh in the 42nd and 77th minutes, ensuring the nation's first SAFF Women's Championship title. Also read: Kalsindur ready to welcome its poster girls – 8 SAFF champs  

Kalsindur village in Dubaora upazila on the India-Bangladesh border in Mymensingh is all set to welcome its symbols of pride – eight members of the women's football team who have brought the SAFF glory to the country. The "golden girls" of the village – Sanjida, Maria Manda, Sheuli Azim, Marzia Akhter, Shamsunnahar, Tahura, Sajeda, and Shamshunnahar Jr – represented the Bangladesh team that clinched the South Asian women's football crown for the first time Monday, breaking India's 12-year monopoly. Thanks to them, the name Kalsindur has spread across the country and abroad. The once neglected village on the border of the Garo Hills is now electrified and its roads are paved due to the fame of the girls. The stories of these girls have also made it to the textbooks of Class XI of the higher secondary level. There is a special lesson in the textbook "The Unbeaten Girls." Biographies of Sanjida, Maria, Tahura, Shamsunnahar, Sheuli, Najma Akhtar, and Marzia are recorded here. Ans the villagers, who once could not think of letting girls play football, is now ready to welcome their heroes back with smiles, cheers and flowers. Kalsindur School and College Assistant Professor Nazmul Haque said a joint meeting of local administration, public representatives and Kalsindur School and College authorities will be held Thursday at noon to welcome the women footballers. Bangladesh thrashed hosts Nepal 3-1 to win the SAFF Women's Championship title at Kathmandu's Dasharath Rangasala Stadium. During the historic final, Bangladesh got off to a great start when Kalsindur's Shamsunnahar Jr put her team in the lead in the 13th minute. The unbeaten team arrived at Dhaka Airport around 2pm Wednesday. Also read: Naniarchar ready to embrace its daughters Rupna, Ritu Porna after brilliance in SAFF Women's tournament

National star studded Bashundhara Kings brushed aside Jamalpur Kacharipara Ekadash by 11-0 goals in the Tricotex Women’s Football League at Kamalapur Stadium here on Thursday.

National star studded Bashundhara Kings brushed aside Cumilla United by 6-0 goals in the Tricotex Women’s Football League at Kamalapur Stadium here on Monday.

Nasrin Sports Academy earned an empathic 12-0 goals victory over Spartan MK Gallactico Sylhet FC in the Tricotex Women’s Football League at Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Shipahi Mohammad Mustafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur here on Sunday.  

The inter-club players registration and transfer window for the upcoming Women’s Football League has been extended by 5 days from February 8 to12 complying with appeals of some participating teams.

Bashundhara Kings have formed a strong team for the 3rd edition of the Women’s Football League recruiting 23 booters, including 19 national players.

Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) decided to arrange the third edition of Women’s Football League that is scheduled to begin from January 31 next year after around a seven-year break.