Shawdesh desk:

Members of the SAFF-winning Bangladesh women’s football team shared their dream and the daily struggles they face with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunis when they met him at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka on Saturday.

The Chief Adviser carefully listened to the demands of the victorious players and promised to address them on a priority basis as he accorded a reception to the heroes following their 2-1 win over Nepal in the final of the seventh SAFF Women’s Championship in Kathmandu on October 30.

‘I congratulate you on behalf of the whole nation on achieving this success. The nation is grateful to you. The people of our country want success. You have brought us the success,’ the Chief Adviser told the players in his opening remarks.

Captain Sabina Khatun thanked the Chief Adviser for hosting them and said that they felt honoured to be able to join the reception.

‘We have come to this stage by overcoming a lot of barriers. It is not just the women’s football team, but women in general in Bangladesh face many struggles,’ she said.

Sabina, who started her football career in 2009, also recalled the contribution of her previous generation for showing the courage of taking football as their passion.

Sabina said that many of them come from a humble background and need to support their families. ‘Our salaries do not allow us to give much support, as we do not get much,’ said Sabina.

The prolific striker became emotion choked while she was describing the struggles of some of her teammates, such as Maria Manda.

Maria from the famous Kolosimdur village in Mymensingh, which provided six players to the SAFF-winning team, lost her father early and was raised by her mother.

Winger Krishna Rani Sarkar raised the issue of their accommodation in Dhaka, while midfielder Manika Chakma shared the difficulties she faced to become a footballer in Laksmichhari, one of the remotest upazilas of hilly Khagrachhari district.

Midfielder Shopna Rani described the poor infrastructure of her native Ranshonkail village in Dinajpur district.

Winger Krishna requested the Chief Adviser to arrange a friendly match for them outside Asia, preferably against European Champions League winners Barcelona.

The Chief Adviser asked every player to write down their individual hopes and aspirations, struggles, and demands in separate pieces of paper and share those with his office.

‘Do not hesitate to write whatever you wish. We will try to fulfil your demands. If anything can be addressed now, we will do it now,’ Professor Yunus said.

Coach Peter Butler and manager Mahmuda Akter also attended the occasion.

Adviser Asif Mahmud, Supradip Chakma, Bidhan Chandra Roy, and Nurjahan Begum were among those present during the reception.