First SAFF title beckons girls
Bangladesh will be looking for a repeat of Thursday's performance when they take on India in the final of the SAFF U-15 Women's Championship today. The hosts started without three of their regular forwards in that match against India, yet ran out with a comfortable 3-0 victory in that last league match of this four-nation tournament.
With all three of those forwards – Anuching Mogini, Sara Ban Tahura and Shamsunnahar – expected to be back in the starting eleven, coach Golam Rabbani Choton will be hoping for a similar, if not an even more ruthless, performance as the hosts look to clinch the title of the inaugural edition of this competition.
A win today would ensure a fourth consecutive victory for Bangladesh over the same opposition, carrying on from two victories in the AFC U-14 Girls' Regional Championship last year. Bangladesh had won the group stage match 3-1 before winning the final 4-0 against India in that competition in Tajikistan last year. Despite those wins in AFC tournaments, Bangladesh have not yet won any title in women's football in the South Asian region. So this could be the ideal time to break that duck and win their first SAFF title overall since the U-16 boys' tournament triumph in Sylhet in 2015.
The match will kick off at 2:00pm at the Birshreshtha Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur. Entry into the venue has been made free for all. The match will be broadcast live on BTV World and Bangla Television. One can also watch the match on the Youtube channels of Prothom Alo and Somoy TV.
Choton was full of confidence that his charges could replicate their performance from Thursday. “We beat them in the league stage. So we are confident about tomorrow's [Sunday's] match,” the coach said during a press conference at the BFF house yesterday ahead of the final. “However, we are making sure that the players don't get complacent or over-confident.”
Having scored 12 goals while conceding none during the three matches in this competition, the coach feels all the departments are well prepared.
“We have all the respect for the India team as they are historically the regional powerhouse. However, we are prepared for them. We have worked with every department separately. We have even prepared for shoot-outs in case the game ends in a draw in regulation time,” the successful coach said, adding that the lure of a SAFF title is a big inspiration for his side.
Following on that victory from Thursday, the team had full rest on Friday before having a light training session yesterday. Forward Sara Ban Tahura, who did not feature in that game, has recovered from her injury while another forward, Sajeda Khatun, is unlikely to take part in the final after picking up a niggle during that match.
That means the hosts could be back to their regular starting eleven, with Tahura, Shamsunnahar and Marzia as the three attacking players behind No. 9 Anuching. Monica Chakma and Maria Manda are likely to play in midfield in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Skipper Maria said they are confident about winning the title. “We have won three matches in the competition, so we are prepared to win the final as well. We are not thinking about the previous matches, and all our focus is on the final,” said the midfielder.
India coach Maimol Rocky was, meanwhile, looking to turn the tide of defeats against the hosts. “We don't think the defeat will discourage our team, instead it should work as a motivation to do well. There is no pressure on us. I have told my players to go out and enjoy the game,” she said.