BD women take on Afghanistan today
Bangladesh women's football team will be hoping to confirm their semifinal berth in the 4th SAFF Women's Championship as they take on Afghanistan in their first Group B match at the Kanchenjunga Stadium in Siliguri today.
Bangladesh are regarded as favourites against the Afghans whom they beat 6-1 in their last meeting during the 2014 SAFF Women's Championship in Islamabad. The fact that Afghanistan have already lost their opening match against India by 5-1 goals makes the equation for Bangladesh fairly simple -- win the game and qualify for the last four.
Bangladesh will face three-time defending champions India in their second group match on Saturday.
Afghanistan, however, are believed to be a much improved side in recent times due to the inclusion of a number of overseas-based players. The Afghans are seemingly taking this championship very seriously as they arrived in India a week ahead of their first match to get used to with the chilly weather of Siliguri.
Bangladesh coach Golam Rabbani Choton admitted this while talking to reporters.
“We have watched the match between India and Afghanistan and it seemed that Afghanistan are a strong side this time because they have included many players who play in different European countries. There is huge a difference between this team and the one that played in the 2014 SAFF Championship,” Choton said on the eve of the game, which is scheduled to get underway at 6:30pm today.
The Bangladesh team are mostly comprised of players from the under-16 squad with only four players including two goalkeepers being seniors. The charges of Choton have been preparing for the championship since late September even though the senior players joined the camp in early November.
“We don't want to give any room to Afghanistan as we will take to the field for a victory and play all out. The girls are hundred percent ready to give their best. I believe they will leave the field with a victory,” said Choton.
The women in red and whites have apparently coped up with the weather of Siliguri after spending two days there.
Captain Sabina Khatun is upbeat about making a winning start even though she is a bit cautious as well.
“India won the match but Afghanistan are a good side, who have two quality forwards and we will have special plan for those two players. However, I believe we can beat them to confirm the semifinal berth,” said the 23-year-old captain, who has been representing Bangladesh since 2009.
Comments