Bangladesh women’s football team returned home to a warm welcome in the early hours of Monday morning after their historic campaign in Myanmar where they qualified for the AFC Asian Cup finals for the first time.
The Bengal Tigresses went straight to the capital’s Hatirjheel from the airport where they were accorded a reception by Bangladesh Football Federation after acing the qualifiers where they thrashed 16 goals past Bahrain, hosts Myanmar and Turkmenistan, against the one conceded in three consecutive victories.
Despite the wee hours, thousands, some of them with banners, welcomed home the women in red and green as the triumphant players were felicitated with flowers.
Bangladesh women’s team’s English head coach Peter Butler even captured the imagination of the crowd by saying “Assalamualaikum” in his speech.
After conquering South Asian football, Bangladesh women’s team captain Afeida Khandaker and star footballer Ritu Porna Chakma set their sight on Asian and world football and they both urged the country to keep the team in their prayers as they chase more laurels.
Cultural affairs adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki was present as a guest and paid glowing tribute to Ritu, terming her the country’s finest athlete right now following her sensational performances in Yangon.
Very much in the limelight currently, Ritu got little time to rest before flying off to Bhutan alongside Monika Chakma to feature in the women’s top-flight league with the last Bangladesh women’s league taking place over a year ago.
Disappointingly for the female booters, as well as the crowd, no announcement of a bonus came along as was speculated by the netizens.
Let alone the successful Myanmar campaign, the Bengal Tigresses are yet to receive their bonus from the 2024 SAFF Championship victory as nine months have passed.
The most poignant thought of the night, therefore, was shared by former national skipper Aminul Haque who said more professionalism should be introduced in Bangladesh women’s football.