Mahfuza Akhter Kiron, the recently-elected chairperson of the Bangladesh Football Federation’s Women’s Football Committee, wants leading sports clubs to take initiatives to develop women’s football in the country.
Kiron believes the laurels brought to the country by the young girls who romped to victory in the last two editions of the AFC U-14 Girls Regional Championship must now be repaid: “Now it is our duty to nurse them properly and maintain our reputation.”
The reputed administrator, who is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), is keen on roping in the leading clubs like Abahani KC and Mohammedan SC, who were at the forefront of carrying forward the men’s game in the country during its formative years, to the task of providing a similar platform for its women footballers.
“We need a proper response and support from the leading clubs for their participation in more women’s football competitions, side-by-side with sufficient funds from the government to nurse the prospects that are plain for all to see in women’s football,” Kiron said in an interview to UNB over the weekend.
These prospects have come about despite a threadbare administrative support structure, and miniscule finances. “Money is not available here (for women’s football). Yet if the capable sections of our society step forward to provide some necessary support, it can only encourage us to expend all our efforts for the improvement of the game,” said Kiron.
At present, women’s football in the country is forced to make do with ‘a little fund’ from sponsors, that Kiron says is not nearly enough to maintain everything. “Our girls have done well. Hopefully, that will inspire sponsors to increase their fund commitment.”
Chief among Kiron’s priorities, provided the funds were forthcoming, would be a national academy for women’s football.
“If we want to train them round-the-year, we need an academy, but we don’t have one. With an academy in place we could look forward to improving the standard of women’s football,” she said.
Yet to move towards professionalising the sport for women, Kiron is convinced the answer lies in the country’s established sporting houses, the clubs, taking up the cause of women’s football seriously.
“Clubs have traditionally displayed little interest in girls’ or women’s football. Just to arrange the two-divisional club leagues for women, we had to request them several times. A women’s tournament can be arranged with just a quarter of the money it takes for a men’s meet,” Kiron asserts.
On whether the clubs have reciprocated any actual interest, the experienced organiser is moved to pronounce a pretty serious claim that might just force them to sit up and take notice: “A few clubs have expressed an interest in this regard, but the vast majority show barely any interest. I think the girls or women are victims of discrimination on this question.”
“If we can regularly arrange the Club Leagues, the girls will be financially benefited. If you look at the picture of men’s football in the country, the clubs are the main source of money for the players, allowing them to turn professional. Similarly they should come forward for women’s football.”
UNB also spoke with the captain of the victorious U-14 team Marzia, ace striker Tohura, and coach Golam Rabbani Choton. They all echoed Kiron’s view that the time is ripe for women’s football in the country to come up and establish itself.
“Two consecutive victories in the AFC U-14 regional championship cannot happen by accident. It proves our ability. We have many talented players, but we have to nurse them. As long as we get proper support from every corner, our girls can be a source of constant success in future,” said Choton.
Captain Marzia says she wants to continue in football alongside her studies. She is clearly keeping an eye on whether or not her passion for football can be met with prospects of a career.
“My family always encourages me a lot. More domestic tournaments would help support us financially and more girls will come forward,” the skipper offered.
Tohura, who was the highest goalscorer in the last AFC U-14 championship, said that although her family was sceptical at first, her superb performances and the team’s success in the tournament won them over.
“Currently they are supporting me a lot,” said the ‘Golden Boot’ girl.
Unless the institutional backing to match their promise now materialises, such support may not continue for long.
