CA asks SAFF winning players to write about their hopes, demands
"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," Prof Yunus said
Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has asked every player of the SAFF-winning Bangladesh women's football team to write down their individual aspirations, struggles, and demands 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," Prof Yunus said.
Members of the SAFF-winning Bangladesh women's football team shared their dreams and the daily struggles they face with Dr Yunus when they met him at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka today (2 November).
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 30 October.
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"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 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 Bangladesh face many struggles in general," she said.
Sabina, who started her football career in 2009, also recalled the contribution of her previous generation for showing the courage to take football as their passion.
She said 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 famous Kolosimdur village in Mymensingh, which provided six players to the SAFF-winning team, lost her father at her early age 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 the Dinajpur district.
Winger Krishna requested the chief adviser to arrange a friendly match for them outside Asia, preferably against European Champions League winners Barcelona.
Coach Peter Butler and manager Mahmuda Akter also attended the occasion.
Advisers Asif Mahmud, Supradip Chakma, Bidhan Chandra Roy, and Nurjahan Begum were among those present during the reception.
CA assures of resolving women's football team's problems
Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain today said Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus assured of taking steps to resolve the problems the Bangladesh women's football team has been facing.
"The problems of the women's football team, including accommodation crisis, lack of training facility and salary structure, were discussed in detail (during a reception) today and sir (chief adviser) assured of taking steps to solve those," he told reporters after the reception.
Responding to a question, the sports adviser said the footballers were asked to submit their demands in writing within 2 or 3 days and he would personally reach those to the chief adviser.
He said Prof Yunus encouraged the women footballers so that the trend of their winning continues.
About the problems of the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF), Asif said in consultation with the new committee of BFF, all the problems of football, including the women's football team, will be resolved.
Mentioning that players are the main stakeholders of sports and they will get the priority, he said the Bangladesh cricket team also has some problems, which were not addressed earlier, and those will be resolved now.
Replying to another query, the sports adviser said the BFF's new leadership has been asked to conduct an audit and submit its report to the ministry. They are also asked to take action if any irregularity is found, he added.
