Bespectacled Anisul Islam seems more the type to hit the books than the courts but looks couldn’t be any more deceiving. He’s been involved with the Scholastica football team for a good chunk of time and represented the team fabulously both on and off the pitch.
He talks about the underground football scene, what it’s like and the future prospects of partaking in such tournaments.
“It began in 2006 with only a few teams. Footballers saw it as an opportunity to turn pro. There are several teams but the heavyweights are 7 Nations Army, DOHS United and Club 11. Players from all over Bangladesh take part in these underground tournaments. Some of these players may then go on to play in the third division and sometimes in the Bangladesh Premier Football League for teams like Abahani and Mohammedan.”
He then speaks about why he thinks that there are so few English Medium school graduates participating in sports in a professional capacity.
“I think it’s because of the increased competition. Out of 100 footballers, maybe only 20 have the potential to turn pro. Out of these 20, only 10 or fewer will try to turn pro. To turn pro, you’d have to essentially give up life as you know it, train for months at a time. Many people don’t want to do this.”
Samaha Hamid plays for both the Scholastica football and handball team. She has won the MVP award in numerous tournaments and has been hailed as the “next big thing” by pretty much everyone who’s seen her in action. The family she belongs to is unbelievable.
As we spoke, her grandmother was in India representing Bangladesh in a chess tournament – Women’s International Master Rani Hamid. Uncles Kaiser Hamid and Hasibul Hossain Shanto are former Bangladesh football and cricket players respectively while Samaha’s parents – Bobby Hamid and Shahrin Hussain Tania – are former national handball players.
We ask her what it is like, having a family like this.
“They were supportive. My dad actually helped train me when I was younger. And I’ve more or less practiced every day of my life.”
However, when asked if she’d ever consider playing for any national team, she said, “No, not really. I was actually called up to play for the national handball team but I declined. My first priority has always been my studies. If I were to play in the national team, I’d have to give that up and dedicate my entire life to the sport. And I don’t want to do that. The future prospects of making a career out of any sport other than cricket aren’t good. I’d prefer some sort of certainty and security in my future and I don’t think playing for any national teams will provide me with that.”
Isheta Ahmed, ex-Scholastican and currently studying in Sunbeams, is another example. A very passionate basketball player and a popular name in school tournaments, Isheta echoes Samaha.
“No. I wouldn’t want to make a career out of it. If playing basketball was my job then I’d have to dedicate all my time to it. And I don’t want to do that. My parents wouldn’t approve. And without the support or approval of parents, it’s nearly impossible to achieve anything. Our parents want the best possible future for us. I’d rather go to Uni to be honest.”
Tasnuva Raian Hera from Mastermind has been the goalkeeper for her school’s football team for two years. Despite her love for the sport and her family’s support in the regard, taking it up as a career has really been an option.
“Honestly, our parents worked so hard so that we could grow up and have an excellent career that lets us have a comfortable life, that I never really considered joining the national team,” she opines.
And therein lies the problem- the fact that a career in sports is rarely considered an “excellent career,” as Tasnuva puts it. When asked why, her answer was simple:
“Female national teams don’t get enough attention. As a result, they lack sponsors, so they are not provided with sufficient funding.”
Though she herself has been an ardent follower and admirer of the Bangladesh women’s football team, she finds the general lack of interest towards women’s football disheartening.
“If you asked a room full of 100 people if they watched the men’s world cup, almost all will say yes. But ask the same people if they even know about the women’s world cup, only few will respond. This shows how our hard work isn’t appreciated much. We don’t get as much opportunities as men do. So eventually, we just lose interest and don’t take it up as a profession.”
Even as a school player, Tasnuva has had to face many problems already.
“We don’t even have enough places to practice. We rented the field in Lalmatia Physical College before an upcoming tournament for practice. Within a few days, the authorities banned girls from playing in it for no apparent reason though they had no problem with boys,” she elaborates.
“A lot of schools we play in have issues when girls wear shorts during tournaments, though it is completely fine when male players roam around shirtless.”
Tasnuva’s sentiments make it clear that in order for female national teams, or any female player at all, to be taken seriously by people, these double standards and discriminatory views must be removed from society. This is the major limiting factor for her, since she believes that otherwise she would have loved a career in professional football, and her parents would have been beyond proud if she succeeded.
“I see how happy they become whenever I win a tournament. They would love to get used to such a thing. But it is the fact that if I ever play in the international arena, most people, being judgmental, would say that football is a man’s game and the only reason we fail to do well is because we’re girls, that really stops me from aspiring to play in the national team.”
However, she does not believe the future is completely bleak.
“The situation is gradually changing. Girls are becoming more and more interested in sports and many schools are recognising their potential. People’s opinions are changing and they are becoming used to the idea of female players. Maybe these sexist opinions will not exist any more once girls start participating in football as much as their male counterparts. Maybe people will warm up to the idea of their female teams bringing them glory too.”
Her hopeful tone reflects the dreams of every athletic girl who does not dare to consider playing for Bangladesh, or every talented young female whose skills are left unrecognised.
After playing volleyball for Scholastica for nine years, it is surprising that Norma, one of the co-writers of this article, decided she does not want to play for the national team.
“The reason is pretty obvious,” Norma says, “Sports is a risky career which depends on physical longevity. If you get injured, or outgrow your form, it’s over. It doesn’t provide you with a certain future.”
When asked about her experience as a school player, she points to her favourite memories of participating in the “Shaky’s G-league: League of Champions” – an international tournament in Philippines.
“We actually played against the Bangladesh national team as part of our practice before the tournament. That experience is another reason I decided I don’t want to take it up as a profession.”
“To say their facilities are not up to par would be an understatement,” Norma explains, “There was an indoor gym with no ventilation and broken wooden floor boards. It felt very unsafe and I kept thinking I would trip on a broken board and injure my leg.”
Furthermore, Norma talks about how the only facilities for players are available in the Women’s Complex in Dhanmondi. Regularly travelling there would take a huge toll on her schedule.
“I would need to practice around six hours every day. Add travel time to that and I would have no time left for my studies. It would probably involve giving up the lifestyle I have known for years and moving into the living quarters for the national team. And as much as I love volleyball, that is a scary thought.”
Though her practice is currently limited to forty minutes a day for a week leading up to any tournament, it is already difficult to find a balance between studies and sports. She is afraid that pursuing a career in it would make the situation even tougher.
“After getting exposure in an international tournament, I have realised how intensive my practice really needs to be to play on a national level. And I just don’t feel like it’s worth giving up my studies for something that can’t guarantee me a stable future.”
There are clearly a lot of things that play a role in discouraging students like Tasnuva and Norma from trying out for the national teams. Perhaps they would consider playing for the country if the facilities were more up-to-date and accessible. One can only hope that the scenario will indeed change to ensure a positive environment for our national women’s teams.
