Only 13 female footballers show up for training under coach Butler amid boycott

The turmoil within Bangladesh women's football deepened as only 13 players turned up for training under head coach Peter Butler.

The crisis, which erupted after 18 senior players, including Sabina Khatun, boycotted training in protest against Butler, has left the national team in a precarious state.

For the first time since the boycott, Butler led a training session at the Bangabandhu National Stadium, but the low turnout underscored the severity of the ongoing dispute.

Despite the limited squad, Butler remained focused. "I am working with the players I have. The work will continue," he stated.

With a full-strength football squad typically requiring more than 13 players for effective training, concerns have been raised about the team's preparation. Butler, however, expressed confidence that reinforcements from the Under-20 team would join soon. "Under-20 players will come in, and they are ready to serve the country," he assured.

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) is actively working to resolve the situation. The head of the BFF women's committee, Mahfuza Akhter, acknowledged the gravity of the issue, saying, "We are continuously working to bring the girls back. We want them to remain in the camp, continue training, and play. That is our only objective."

Mahfuza revealed that discussions with the boycotting players are ongoing, but no resolution has been reached. "We have explained everything we needed to from our side. The president is also involved, and an investigation committee has already been formed. I am hopeful that a positive outcome will be achieved."

Despite these efforts, the lack of participation in training has raised significant concerns about the team's ability to compete effectively in upcoming matches. For now, Bangladesh women's football remains in a state of uncertainty, with the national team's future hanging in the balance.