North Macedonian football coach Jugoslav Trenchovski got to know about Sabina Khatun and Co when he was at Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra guiding the former Bangladesh Premier League champions as head coach last season.
He returned home but did not forget.
Bangladesh women’s football team goalkeeping coach Masud Ahamed Uzzal said it was because of Trenchovski North Macedonia’s top women’s football club Brera Tiverija became interested.
Uzzal was assisting Trenchovski at Sheikh Russel.
He said: “I showed him (Trenchovski) women’s games. He liked that our girls have talent.
“He knocked me during the SAFF Championship and wanted to take some players for a club of his locality. I told him to watch Bangladesh’s matches.”
Tiverija’s team director Aleksandra Terziski contacted Uzzal, showing interest for four Bangladesh players – Sabina, Ritu Porna Chakma, Monika Chakma and Tohura Khatun – all of whom impressed in the SAFF winning campaign.
The European club had to pick two and they chose Sabina and Ritu Porna.
Sabina said she informed of Tiverija’s interest to the football federation with the offer letter in hand. She also talked about visa complicacies.
Terziski did not want to comment further.
She texted Dhaka Tribune: “There is a lot of paperwork that has to be done so we can’t talk much about it at the moment.”
When queried why Tiverija got interested for the Bangladeshi duo, she replied: “I guess like every other club we also want to have good foreign players in the team.”
Tiverija are currently in terrific form.
They are unbeaten after 10 games in the ongoing North Macedonian women’s league. The league leaders just thrashed Rechika 11-0 Sunday.
If they finish top they will be in the Champions League.
No footballer, man or woman, born and brought up in Bangladesh played in Europe before.
Male footballers like Jamal Bhuiyan and Tariq Raihan grew up in Europe before featuring in the Bangladesh Premier League and national team.
Bangladesh’s female booters however, have faced footballers who plied their trade in European leagues.
At the last Asian Games, Bangladesh was up against former world champions Japan, some of whom play in Europe.
The women’s youth side played against guest team Russia during the SAFF Under-17 Women’s Championship 2023 but none from that squad are in the senior side.
North Macedonian women’s football is not among the top in Europe.
Their women’s national team are currently ranked 131st in the latest FIFA rankings while Bangladesh are 139th.
The league champions compete in the first round of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
Five-time runners-up Tiverija, who finished third last season, are favorites to earn this spot for the first time with new foreign investor.
The first half of North Macedonian women’s league will conclude on November 21.
There will be winter break until January 15, 2025 when they start preparation for the second phase, scheduled to be held from March to May.
Tiverija want Sabina and Ritu Porna before the January preparation and ahead of the second half of the 2024-25 league season.
