History beckons women

Bangladesh women's football team will be hoping to break the Indian jinx when they take on the three-time champions in the final of the 4th SAFF Women's Championship at the Kanchenjunga Stadium in Siliguri today. The match will kick off at 6:30pm [Bangladesh time].

Bangladesh trounced Maldives 6-0 in the semifinal to book their maiden final berth, where they will play against the hosts against whom they have previously lost six out of seven matches.

India are the predominant force in South Asian women's football, with stars like strikers Yumnam Kamala Devi and Ngangom Bala Devi, midfielders Sasmita Malik and Oinam Bembem Devi. However the fact that Bangladesh held the Indians to a draw in the group stages will definitely give Golam Rabbani Choton's charges a boost of confidence going into the final.

If Bangladesh do manage to beat India today, they will write two pieces of history -- firstly beating their mighty neighbours for the first time, and secondly winning a maiden silverware at senior level.

The women in red and green fought valiantly with a defensive strategy in the group phase match against India, but this time they are expected to employ a counter-attacking strategy.

While there is a gulf of difference in richness of history between the two sides, the Bangladesh coach wants today's final to turn the table around.  

“We achieved our first target by qualifying for the semifinals, and then we moved to the final for the first time. Now we are dreaming of ending the campaign on a winning note. The girls will give their hundred per cent. So let's see what happens tomorrow [Wednesday],” Choton told reporters yesterday.

The successful women's coach is satisfied with the performance of the goalkeeper, the defenders and the strikers, but he wants more from his midfielders.

Choton will be expecting a continuation of the explosive performance from the striking pair of Sabina Khatun and Sirat Jahan Swapna, who together struck 10 goals in three matches. Sabina herself is prepared to give her best.   

“We executed our game plan properly against Maldives in the semifinal, but it is now final, so we will be trying to give our best to win the title,” said Sabina, who has been highly praised by the Indian press.

“I am not under any pressure because Indian press is writing that they think. I am not thinking about it, rather we are looking forward to reaping the rewards of the hard work we put in during the training camp,” said the striker from Satkhira.

Goalkeeper Sabina Akter has kept a clean sheet throughout the tournament so far and was especially instrumental against India where she thwarted a number of opposition attacks. The stocky custodian from Jessore is expected to put another bold performance to keep Bangladesh in the hunt.

“I am not thinking of the performance I put against India in group phase because the final will be a new game, so I am thinking of starting afresh. I want to play the final more seriously as the people of Bangladesh are looking at us and we want to leave the field with a good performance,” said the goalkeeper.