Dhaka- Bangladesh U-18 Women’s team are ready to start their maiden SAFF U-18 Women’s Championship taking on Pakistan in their first match at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan on Sunday.
The match between Bangladesh and Pakistan will kick-off at 7 pm.Bangladesh U-15 Women’s team outplayed Pakistan by 14-0 goals in the SAFF U-15 Champions in Bhutan last August and Bangladesh Men’s team beat Pakistan 1-0 in the SAFF Championship in Dhaka early this month.
Even, Bangladesh yet to play their first match, but their Group B rivals Nepal made a flying start crushing group opponent Pakistan by a massive 12-0 goals in the opening group encounters Friday evening.
In Group A, India also made a good start beating hosts Bhutan 4-0 on the same same day and same venue.The Maldives, which was also place in Group A with India and Bhutan, will play Bhutan in Sunday’s other match at the same venue.
On completion of group matches, two top teams from each of the group will play in the semifinals on October 5 while the final match will be held on October 7.
Bangladesh team finished runners-up in the SAFF U-15 Women’s Championship in Bhutan in last August. Meanwhile, all the players of Bangladesh are now fully fit and well prepared to give their best in the newly introduced SAFF U-18 Women’s Championship on Sunday.
Ahead of the Sunday’s match, Bangladesh skipper Mishrat Jahan Moushumi is confident of putting up a good show in their first match against Pakistan on way to their initial target of reaching final.
Bangladesh Head Coach Golam Rabbani Choton and National Technical and Strategic Director Paul Thomas Smalley also have expressed their full confidence to the players to pick up a good result in the opening game.
All the players of Bangladesh team had a walk session after breakfast on Saturday before groomed them in the gym and conditioning session. They also had a light development program on the day.
The team members also took part in a team meeting including video analysis and presentation before their final practice session on Saturday ahead of the Pakistan game on Sunday.
Bangladesh U-18 Women’s Football team, which reached Bhutan on Wednesday to participate in the six-nation South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Women’s Championship keeping their bird eyes on the final, will play Nepal in their last group match on Tuesday (Sept 2).
Thirteen players of the just concluded AFC U-16 Group F champions Bangladesh team like Maria Manda, Akhi Khantun, Monika Chakma, Tohura Khatun, Anuching Mogini, Anai Mogini, Sajeda Khatun and Shamsunnahar were included in the U-18 team.
Besides, comparatively senior players like Krishna Rani Sarkar, Sanjida Khatun, Ratna, Swapna, Mousumi who were excluded from the Bangladesh U-16 team due to over age, were also in the Bangladesh team.
Members of Bangladesh team: Mahmuda Akhter, Rupna Chakma, Ruksana Begum, Masura Parvin, Sheuli Akhter, Krishna Rani Sarkar, Sanjida Akhter, Ishrat Jahan Ratna, Sirat Jahan Shopna, Mishrat Jahan Mousumi, Marzia, Nazma, Ritu Porna Chakma, Nilufa Yesmin Nila, Maria Manda, Akhi Khantun, Monika Chakma, Tohura Khatun, Anuching Mogini, Anai Mogini, Sajeda Khatun, Shamsun Nahar, Razia Khatun and Sajeda Khatun. UNB
