Women’s football in Bangladesh has seen consistent success through the year. With its recent success of becoming SAFF champions followed by all round enthusiasm for the sport, it could go even further were it not for a lack of funds.
The date was 19 September 2022.
One of the best days in Bangladesh football history.
On this day, the Bangladesh women’s football team created history in front of 16,000 spectators at Dashrath Rangshala in Nepal defeating the hosts 3-1 to become SAFF champions for the first time.
This is touted to be the most prestigious success of Bangladeshi football in the last two decades. Before this, the SAFF men’s championship in 2003 was the biggest success of Bangladesh football.
Over time, Bangladesh football’s popularity as well as the game has lost its lustre when the entire country’s sport calendar revolved around football tournaments. This recent success of the women’s teams and other age level performance in women’s football have managed to rekindle the passion for football leading to a resurgence of the game’s popularity. The overwhelming enthusiasm centring football that came on the heels of the SAFF victory is quite indicative of that.
With hindsight this resurgence was only due to a key decision by the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) not to ignore women’s football. It could have easily skirted around it concentrating its efforts on rejuvenating men’s football before doing anything substantial with women’s football. As is apparent now, that had not been the case. It was a difficult decision, but BFF did not shirk away. And it has paid rich dividends.
Although there is no separate government sponsorship for women’s football, BFF has promoted women’s football in its efforts. A formidable national side was developed by dint of another visionary decision to set up a permanent residential camp for girls in the BFF House. Apart from the national team, women’s age group teams have also been nurtured through intensive care. Starting off with 36 footballers, the programme now boasts around 70 footballers who are undergoing intensive training at the Elite Women’s Football Academy under direct BFF management.
The benefits of these activities have also been tangible. Bangladesh’s achievements in women’s football in the last five years are outstanding. In 2018, Bangladesh U-15 women’s team were the unbeaten champions of Jockey Club Girls International Youth Football Tournament. The same year, Bangladesh U-18 women’s team did not lose a single point on their way to claiming the SAFF U-18 title. U-16 women’s team also tasted success in 2018 winning AFC Women’s Championship qualifier round one.
