Monika Chakma: Taking Bangladesh football to the next level
Girls like Monika are helping to break barriers for many others and helping them chase their dreams.
"I feel at home with the ball at my feet." - Monika Chakma, Bangladesh women's team footballer.
Growing up in Khagrachhari, Monika was not like the other girls, she was interested in playing football with the boys.
"Most of the time, I used to play with the boys and quite often I would be the first player getting picked by the team," Monika says with a grin.
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But at Khagrachhari, her family did not always see her as a footballer. "I never let my parents know that I was playing football, because I knew they would not like it, or maybe not allow me to play with the boys."
However, her talent was evident right from an early age. "I remember when I was playing in my village, my teammates would tell me that I could make a career as a footballer."
And that eventually did come to fruition as Monika made the under-14 women's team.
"It was one of the best moments and feelings for me to be able to represent my country and I would say it is a highlight for me," Monika explains. Her control of the ball and the ability to score spectacular goals gave her the nickname "Magic Chakma."
"I started to make my way up the age groups - the under-16's, the under-18's and now the national team and I want to make sure that I keep on getting better," Monika adds.
The national team head coach Golam Rabbani Chhoton believes that along with Captain Maria Manda, Monika is the best player in the team.
"The coaches are always helping us and making sure that we are doing well, and I have to say that without their help and support, we would not be able to improve the way we have," she says.
Monika is currently 18, but is already one of the key players in the team with her ability to control the play in the midfield and score goals.
She admits that she first fell in love with football by seeing Argentina's Lionel Messi in the 2010 World Cup and he is her idol.
"I was a kid back then, but the way Messi played always was special and that was the first World Cup that I got to see. Watching him and the way he played, made me fall in love with the game, and made me want to play for my country as well," Monika says with a smile.
The way her progress has gone from strength to strength and the way youth female football teams have been doing, one could become hopeful about the women's team one day making it to the World Cup.
With FIFA also planning to increase the number of teams that play in the upcoming World Cup, the chances for the women's team looks increasingly bright.
"We do not want to think too far ahead, but we obviously have dreams of one day playing in the World Cup. We believe we have the ability to compete and even beat the very best. So, we ask for our fans and followers to keep on supporting us, so that we can bring smiles to their faces."
Girls like Monika are helping to break barriers for many others and helping them chase their dreams.
She has a message for all of them, "I know that we have lots of barriers in the society, but if you have a dream, do not be afraid to believe in it and go after it. Who knows, we might be playing together in the future.
"We have some excellent coaches and we have a setup that is helping our football grow with every passing days. We know that there are many girls like me that want to play for the country and do well."
Monika is currently with the women's team for a training camp, but she explains that the team is like another family to her.
The camaraderie is also quite evident among the girls. While Monika was busy with her photoshoot after the interview, from the Bangladesh Football Federation balcony Monika's teammates were all there to see her and cheer her on, while cracking the odd joke in between but all in good spirits.
"I am posing for pictures like they do in the movies!" She jokes with her teammates, before smiling from ear to ear.
Even during the photo shoot, she felt more at ease with the ball at her feet than posing for pictures or giving the interview.
We are not allowed too much time to do the interview and the photo shoot, as her head coach calls her up.
"We have a strict routine here. We train two times a day. Once in the morning and once in the afternoon. We have specific times for our meals so that we can train better, sleep better and be a 100 percent ready before each game," Monika quips.
With the 2010's done and with the 2020's here, we will be seeing, hearing and writing a lot more about this super-talented footballer.
Monika is primed to be one of the stars to take Bangladesh football and women's sports to the next level into the new decade and one of the names that many football lovers, sports lovers and pundits are hanging their hopes on for greater things in the future.
Given Monika's cool and calm demeanour, it is easy to see her hunger to be a top player. But despite being under the glare of the attention of the people and the media, she does not have an iota of arrogance about her and comes off as a very humble and simple human being.
With some positive results in the South Asian games, Bangladesh sports seem to be going through a renaissance, and with the men's football also showing signs of improvement under head coach Jamie Day, even better times await for the women's football team with the likes of Monika Chakma - the girl set to take Bangladesh football to the next level.
