Celebrated Kalsindur school football coach and teacher Mofiz Uddin heaped praise on Tahura Khatun for consecutive braces against Singapore, singling one goal as “world class”, while Shanti Moni Chakma used the word “unbelievable” to describe one of Rituporna Chakma’s strikes.
Based in Rangamati, Shanti Moni was the first coach of Rituporna till she got admitted to Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishthan in seventh grade.
Rituporna struck a double during the 8-0 rout of Singapore Monday.
It was her maiden international brace and first goal since the SAFF Championship group fixture against Bhutan last year.
The 19-year old left winger showed strength, power and accuracy for her second goal, and Bangladesh’s fifth, that sneaked into the top corner.
“It was like those unbelievable goals you couldn’t have imagined,” said Shanti Moni to Dhaka Tribune over phone after watching the game on smartphone in Rangamati.
“Of course, it is a world class goal. You can’t see such goals often in Bangladesh. Hopefully there will be more of such goals in future.
“She had huge mental strength and interest in football since childhood. I always encouraged her to keep full concentration. She played well. Both goals were beautiful. It feels really good.”
Mofiz, on the other hand, conveyed admiration directly to Tahura over phone when she was preparing for the second match after her double helped Bangladesh to a 3-0 win Friday.
One of her goals in the first game was like a chip or volley that curved over the Singapore goalkeeper and bounced softly into the net.
It was not like a typical chip that originated from the surface or volley that usually has more power.
The 20-year old striker stretched her legs on air to meet a long ball and scored from an acute angle with a delightful first touch.
Tahura informed Dhaka Tribune that she had scored another goal in almost similar style during the historic 2-2 draw against Australia in the AFC U-16 Championship in 2019 but never before in the senior team’s jersey.
Mofiz was the first coach of Tahura.
He started training Tahura and other Kalsindur girls in 2011 when she was only seven years old.
He coached Tahura and Co for five years before she joined the national youth team’s residential camp.
“She (Tahura) was a midfielder but used to score many goals. I never saw her scoring such a goal. The way she sent the ball over the goalkeeper made the goal world class,” Mofiz told Dhaka Tribune over phone from Mymensingh soon after the big win.