Men’s football disappointments, women’s persistent victories

It was like a wedding—grand festivities, vibrant celebrations. But the end was marked by heartbreak, like the sorrowful farewell of giving away a daughter. After the curtains fell on the SAFF Championship, the scene was fittingly similar in both Nepal and Bangladesh camps.

Nepal had taken to their home ground with dreams of an elusive SAFF title. The 15,000-capacity Dasharath Stadium was packed well before the match began, with fans spilling outside the venue. At the end of the much-awaited SAFF Women’s Championship final, Nepalese supporters were left heartbroken. On the other hand, Bangladesh emerged victorious, successfully defending their title against various challenges under the guidance of Peter Butler. Amid the team’s celebratory scenes, Butler announced it was his last game as head coach of the women’s team. Thus, a note of sorrow sounded amid the colors of celebration! Only time will tell if Butler will stay with the champions, but for now, let this somber tune play.

Since winning the SAFF crown in 2022, Bangladesh’s women’s football has faced a string of negative headlines, and international play between the two tournaments has been limited. In contrast, India and Nepal have progressed smoothly, competing actively on the international stage, sparking concern for Bangladesh. This anxiety only intensified when Bangladesh nearly lost to Pakistan in the opening match, scraping by with a draw. However, that very game may have spurred the team on. In the next match, Bangladesh shook off any fears, defeating India 3-1. Bhutan, who showed remarkable skill in the group stage, couldn’t mount any resistance in the semifinals, with Bangladesh cruising to a 7-1 victory. In the final, the host team Nepal put up a fight, but Bangladesh kept control, showcasing a mature and evolving style of football. As a result, Bangladesh managed to retain their crown from 2022.
After losing the SAFF Championship final (3-1) to host India at the Kanchenjunga Stadium in 2016, then-coach Golam Rabbani Choton said, “This is our stepping stone. Better things are waiting for Bangladesh.” Choton proved right, as under his guidance, Bangladesh claimed the SAFF title in 2022. Since then, Choton stepped down, but Wednesday night’s final proved Bangladesh hadn’t lost its way. On October 26, a new president, Tabith M Awal, replaced Kazi Md Salahuddin in the Bangladesh Football Federation. Just as Peter Butler smoothly carried the baton from Golam Rabbani Choton to lead Bangladesh to victory, it is hoped that Tabith M Awal will continue the legacy left by Kazi Md Salahuddin. While men’s football has persistently disappointed, the goal is to keep women’s success going strong.

In the final, Monica Chakma’s opening goal for Bangladesh was only held for three minutes before Amisha Karki equalized for Nepal. Rituparna Chakma soon wrote the final chapter, scoring the winning goal and earning the tournament’s spotlight as its best player. Bangladesh’s Rupna Chakma was named the best goalkeeper, a title she first won in the 2022 championship. Looking back on this latest championship, the significant contributions from players of the hill tracts will be clear. The post-victory celebrations have gone beyond hills, plains, religion, or race, with a unifying joy spreading across the 147,610 square kilometers of Bangladesh. Players like Ritu, Tohura, Sabina, and Krishna have shown that this land is, indeed, a single unit.
In the 2024 SAFF Championship record, Rituparna Chakma’s stats may show only two goals and three assists. Yet, these numbers don’t fully convey the role this skilled footballer played. Ritu’s relentless attacks against Pakistan and India, her accurate crosses, and her dribbling that disoriented defenders will not be recorded in mere stats. In 2022, after scoring eight goals, Sabina Khatun took a different role this time, stepping back from the front line to a playmaking position. Her withdrawal created a gap filled by Tohura Khatun, a striker from Kolshindur, Mymensingh, who scored five goals, the highest for Bangladesh in this tournament. After Aki Khatun stepped away, there were initial worries about defense, but Masura Parvin quickly proved her reliability. Masura and Avida Khandakar’s partnership was instrumental in this year’s victory. Tall and steadfast, Avida kept Nepal’s striker Sabitra Bhandari in check, delivering an impressive performance.

Meanwhile, as Bangladesh focused on defending its SAFF crown, former striker Sirat Jahan Swapna shared an emotional post about her newborn child, having stepped away from football to focus on family. Krishna Rani Sarkar, recovering from injury, was on the team but played limited minutes. All these changes didn’t derail Bangladesh’s path to success.

The victories prove that women’s football in Bangladesh is progressing in the right direction. However, if the football federation becomes complacent with the current progress, it won’t take long to lose the path. There was a time when the Bangladesh Football Federation earned substantial revenue from ticket sales in domestic football during the 1980s and 1990s, yet a full-fledged football academy for nurturing young talent was never established. Consequently, the men’s football team’s struggles on the global stage have long been a story of disappointment. Football fans surely do not wish to see the same story repeated for women’s football.

Mahbub Sarkar: Sports Journalist and Analyst