Bangladesh Under-16 Women’s Football team, now in the Chonburi Province of Thailand to compete in the eight-team final round of the AFC U-16 Championship 2017, made their first practice session on Saturday.
The AFC U-16 Women’s Championship’ 2017 will kick-off on Sunday (Sept 10) with Korean Republic taking on China in the opening match at 5 pm (local time) at IPE Stadium in Chonburi while hosts Thailand will encounter Laos in the other opening day’s fixture at 7 pm (local time) at the Chonburi Stadium on Sunday.
Bangladesh team, now staying at Bang Saen Heritage Hotel in Chonburi, visited the Bang Sean beach and made light physical training in the beach before participating the official practice session in the afternoon.
Earlier on Friday, Bangladesh U-16 women’s team led by Krishna Rani Sarker, reached Thai capital Bangkok in the afternoon and rushed to Chonburi Province on the same day.
Bangladesh women’s team have been placed in Group B of the prestigious Asian junior women’s meet along with holders North Korea, Japan and Australia while the Group A comprises hosts Thailand, China, Korean Republic and Laos.
Bangladesh will start their campaign in the heavyweight Asian meet taking on defending champions Korea on Monday (September 11) at the Chonburi Stadium at 5pm local time.
In the remaining group matches, Bangladesh will play Japan on September 14 at IPE Stadium in Chonburi while meet Australia on September 17 in the last group match at the same venue.
Meanwhile, all the eight participating teams have already reached the Chonburi and the head coaches of all the participating teams addressed pre-match press conference there Saturday morning.
Addressing the pre-match press conference, the Head Coach of Bangladesh team Golam Rabbani Choton sads, “Our aim to play better football, Our players will gather good experiences which will help development of women’s football in future, said a BFF media release Saturday afternoon.
Bangladesh women’s team, which qualified for the final round of the Asian meet for the first time as the unbeaten champions of Group C eliminating Iran, Singapore, Kyrgyzstan, Chinese Taipei and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have been groomed and nursed for a record timing of one year, spending more than Tk 3 crore.
On the way to clinching the Group C title, Bangladesh women’s beat IR Iran 3-0, Singapore 5-0, Kyrgyzstan 10-0, Chinese Taipei 4-2 and the UAE by 4-0 goals in Dhaka last year.
As a part of their year long preparations, Bangladesh U-16 Women’s team toured four Asian soccer giants’ countries on five occasions to play preparatory matches there –twice in Japan and once each in Singapore, South Korea and China.
Bangladesh U-16 squad: Players- Krishna Rani Sarker (captain), Tahura Khatun, Maria Manda, Sirat Jahan Swapna, Ankhi Khatun, Namza, Mahmuda, Rumki, Masura Parvin, Sheuly, Anai Mogini, Nila, Shamsunnahar, Mishrat Jahan Mousumi, Sanjida, Marzia, Monika Chakma, Ishrat Jahan Rantna, Razia Khatun and Anuching Mogini.
Officials: Amirul Islam Babu (Team Leader), Zakir Hossain Chowdhury (Manager) Golam Rabbani Choton (Head Coach), Mahbubur Rahman Litu (Assistant Coach), Paul Thomas Samlley (Technical and Strategic Director) and Sabina Khatun (Women’s Coach).
