The Women’s Football League, that kicked off after a hiatus of seven years was postponed before it rolls into halfway stage as sports ministry has given a directive to shut down all kinds of sporting activities until 31st March as precaution against the spread of coronavirus fears. As a consequence, most of the female footballers left the capital by Wednesday.
There were more than 200 female footballers living in Dhaka for the seven clubs in the league and BFF training camp before they started leaving the capital from Tuesday toward their respective rural homes.
Table leaders Bashundhara Kings, who have majority of the national team members, declared a seven-day vacation while other clubs closed the training camps for unknown period, until at least the end of the month.
Having been won all five matches netting a total 51 goals, the Kings were previously scheduled to face FC Uttar Bango on Wednesday but instead of playing, national midfielder Maria Manda was on her way to Mymensingh.
“The overall situation is not good due to coronavirus. The league is closed. It’s good to spend some times with family in this time.” said Maria, accompanied by Sanjida Akter and Sheuli Azim who also are hailed from the same location near the Kalsindur village.
Mahmuda Sharifa oditi, the head coach of Bashundhara, said, “The seven-day break starts from today [Wednesday] and all the players sent back to their home. We advised them to be clean and careful and stay inside the home.”
Uttar Bango, who has four national players including Israt Jahan Ratna and Mosammat Sultana, temporally closed the camp for 15 days while Begum Anwara SC with four former youth national members including Shopna Khatun and Dipa Khatun also left the city after their camp was closed on Tuesday until further notice. Nasrin Sports Club, who has one national team member Razia Akter, postponed the camp until March 31.
Apart from the WFL players, the football federation was having 58 age-group female booters at the BFF training camp. National women’s team head coach Golam Rabbani Choton said, “They started leaving camp from today [Wednesday]. They will not return until the situation gets better.”