Modern facilities beckoning for Kalsindur, Nayapukur
The introduction of the Bangamata Begum Fajilatunnesa Mujib Gold Cup Primary School Football Tournament in 2011 completely changed the scenario of women's football in the country, with girls who had come up through the ranks in that tournament adding a multitude of feathers to their caps at the international level.
However, although hundreds of girls from primary schools across the country have been taking part in the Bangamata Gold Cup every year, quality women footballers are being produced only by a few non-descript villages such as Kalsindur, under the Dhobaura Upazila of Mymensingh, and Nayapukur, under the Sadar upazila of Rangpur.
The achievements of these girls at both national and international level are also testament to how the finest female footballers are being fostered in those two villages. Palichara Primary School of Nayapukur village have clinched the Bangamata Gold Cup once and become runners-up once, while Kalsindur Primary School were crowned champions twice.
With a team comprising mostly of girls from those teams, Bangladesh have won the AFC Regional Girls Championship twice and have also become group champions in the AFC U-16 Women's Championship Qualifiers. Most recently, the women's team became runners-up in the SAFF Women's Championship.
These girls have undoubtedly been encouraged by the kind-hearted people of their villages, some of whom have convinced reluctant parents of the budding footballer to allow them to play, while others have arranged things such as boots, jerseys and footballs to make sure that training sessions on the grounds of the Kalsindur High School and College and Palichara Primary School and Palichara MS High School would continue unhindered.
Now the government has stepped forward and will be increasing facilities at the two grounds -- Kalsindur and Nayapukur -- by upgrading the grounds, setting up mini-pavilions and constructing dressing rooms, washrooms as well as office rooms.
“In line with the instructions from the parliamentary standing committee on the youth and sports, we have prepared a project worth Tk 1.45 crore to increase the facilities at two grounds in Kalsindur and Nayapukur,” National Sports Council secretary Ashok Kumar Biswas told The Daily Star.
The project has already been placed at the finance ministry and the game's regulatory body will implement it as soon as the project is approved.
“The development works in Kalsindur include developing the ground, constructing mini-pavilions, dressing room, office room, washroom and an RCC connecting road to the Kalsindur School and College. It will take Tk 64.33 lakh to complete the project,” said Biswas. “The development works in Nayapukur is similar to Kalsindur, but there will be a surface drain for the ground instead of RCC connecting road. It will take Tk 75.55 lakh.”
Biswas believes the development at these two grounds will inspire the locals to be more involved with women's football, which would ultimately benefit the country.
Asked whether they had further plans to enhance the facilities at other schools which are also producing good female footballers, Biswas said: “We are ready to fulfil the demand if there is national need.”
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