Mahfuza Akhter Kiron, chairman of the women’s wing, who retained her position as the executive member of the BFF believes taking women's football beyond South Asia is not possible without the financial and infrastructural help from the government.
Kiron also feels the importance of Peter Butler’s to continue as Bangladesh Women’s team head coach.
Kiron, who also experienced that BFF has been struggling to run training camp and holding league and FIFA friendly matches over the years due to lack of financial support, expects necessary supports from the interim government.
Kiron, who was in Seuol for joining the AFC Congress and AFC Award Night during the SAFF final, after returning home on Saturday talked to the reporters on Sunday.
Kiron while talking to the reporters at BFF Bhaban on Sunday said, “We don't have any infrastructure. We don't have even any individual ground for women's football, we have to share the grounds with the men’s team or have to go BKSP, girls even can't do practice properly. In this context, it is a miracle for the women's football team to become back-to-back champions SAFF football.”
“We don’t have lack of efforts to develop women's football. We had also demands to the previous government for financial and infrastructural support. Without the support, we will not be able to take football to the next level. We also make the same demands to the interim government,” Kiron revealed.
Kiron, thanking the chief adviser for the reception and financial incentive for the women footballers, said, “We know the Chief Adviser promised to address the players' individual demands but we, the BFF, also want to place a development proposal before the interim government after discussing the matter with the newly elected executive committee.”
"We can't roll competitions for women's football regularly for the lack of the grounds, so we want a dedicated ground for women footballers, if the government provides us with a BKSP-like academy and a training ground, it will be useful towards the development of women's football,” Kiron added.
Kiron also said that they would request to the government for financial help for their (women) coaching staff including foreign coaches and help for playing FIFA friendly matches.
Kiron said, “It’s essential to play matches against strong sides of Asia, otherwise it would not be possible to bring up the team to the top leve. But our team don't often get opportunity to play FIFA friendly matches due to shortage of fund, so if the government supports us to play at least five to six friendly matches in the FIFA window every year, it is possible to go beyond the South Asian level.”
Meanwhile, Butler, who guided the Bangladesh Women’s team to retain the SAFF Championship title as unbaten champions and very next day announced that he would not continue as the women’s coach.
After the first match against Pakistan, when Bangladesh drew the match 1-1, there were huge controversies with Butler’s strategy of forming the squad. Some of the media also very meanly criticised Butler.
Butler put across his annoyance with the criticisms and attacking him brining the allegation with senior-junior issues when he said that he would no longer as the women’s team coach.
However, Kiron, expressed her intend, Butler to continue as the women’s team head coach.
Kiron, said, “Butler is one of the best coaches in recent times worked with the Bangladesh teams. He has experiences of playing in the English Premier League (EPL). I want him to continue and there would be a try to convince him to change his decision.”
Peter Butler, who played for English Premier League (EPL) West Ham Unite, was the coach of the Liberian national and top clubs different countries, so there is no question about his ability, as he proved it in the recently concluded SAFF Championship.
About the issues of senior and junior booter of the women team, Kiron said, “Butler wanted the juniors there was a misunderstanding, what Butler actually wanted. He wanted the juniors to do well, at the same time seniors also wanted to play. I talked to both players at that time. It’s nothing to take too seriously.”
