With little preparation, Bangladesh Under-16 girls began the South Asian competition and it is no wonder anymore why Mosammat Yearzan Begum started between the sticks wearing the No. 22 jersey.
Yearzan made sure No. 1 Meghla Rani Roy would not be needed in the starting XI for the four matches as Bangladesh won all to become unbeaten champions and Yearzan was named the best goalkeeper of the tournament.
At the end, she made three stunning saves in the tiebreaker, steering Bangladesh to 3-2 win over India in the exciting final held in Kathmandu’s Lalitpur Sunday.
India’s Alena Devi, Bonifilia Shullai and Divyani Linda were left helpless as Yearzan dived on both directions to save three shots.
The star of the final could not hold back her tears at the post-match reaction, a video of which went viral on social media.
It was tears of joy as she said: “Feeling really happy after playing my first international tournament and being adjudged the best goalkeeper.”
It was learned that Yearzan hails from a poor family from Panchagarh, the northernmost district of the country.
Her father has been suffering breathing issues and mother earns their daily bread.
“My father supported me to become a footballer. He is ill due to breathing problem. My mother is working and running the family,” she said after the final.
She also said she was thinking of quitting football after participating in school competition but that her father inspired her to carry on.
Yearzan also said she did not have rent to go to the academy from her house.
Her coach provided the money after discovering an emerging talent in her.
She continued, “The village people used to say negative things. I shared those with my coach. He told me not to listen to those words and encouraged me to keep going on. He was confident that if I play well, I can get national call and earn their praises instead.”
Yearzan dedicated her best goalkeeper of the tournament award to her father and the coach.