Bangladesh national U-19 women’s football team’s head coach Golam Robbani Choton hoped that his girls would fight their best to win the crown of the SAFF U-19 Women’s Football Championship.

The SAFF U-19 Women’s Football Championship will be held from December 11-22 at Birshreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Stadium in the city’s Kamalapur. The Bangladesh U-19 women’s team, for the first time, are going to participate in the championship.

Addressing at a press conference held today (Thursday) at conference room of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Bhaban, the U-19 women’s team head coach said the girls have taken good preparation in physically, technically and tactically and they have been working hard to get a good result in the championship.

The team’s head coach said his girls have consistence successes in the age level tournaments and he is found optimistic his girls would able to carry out the same consistency to the SAFF U-19 Women’s championship to get a good result. Choton hoped that his girls would play good football and capable to fight all the teams because the girls are in training for a long and would utilize their Uzbekistan’s experience in the tournament.

Replying to a question the head coach said Bangladesh’s team are favorite in the championship because the team would get the home ground advantage.

Choton said each participating teams of the tournament are equally strong and each match is important for his team and girls would play each match giving the importance.

The U-19 women’s team’s captain Maria Manda, who was present in the press conference, said they are upbeat to play good football in the ground and aimed to fight for the championship. BFF women’s wings chairman Mahfuza Akter Kiron also hoped that the girls would fight for the championship to get a good result.

She also announced a 23-member of Bangladesh U-19 women’s team squad in the press conference.

The U-19 women’s team’s leader Zakir Hossain Chowdhury, U-19 women’s team’s manager Amirul Islam, BFF general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag and U-19 women’s team’s vice captain Akhi Khatun were present in the press conference.

SAFF U-19 women’s football team: Rupna Chakma and Yasmin Akter (custodian), Eity Rani, Akhi Khatun, Shamsunnahar (sr.), Anai Mogini, Nasrin Akter, Nilufa Yasmin Nila, Afeida Khandaker, Unnoti Khatun and Kohati Kisku (defenders), Maria Manda, Monika Chakma, Shohagi Kisku, Shahada Akter Ripa and Ritu Porna Chakma ( midfielders), Marzia, Shopna Rani, Tohura Khatun, Anuching Mogini, Halima Khatun, Shamsunnahar (Jr.) and Rehena Akter (forwards).

Team’s officials: Zakir Hossain Chowdhury, (team leader), Amirul Islam ( team manager), Paul Thomas Smalley (technical director, BFF), Golam Robanni Choton (head coach), Mahbubur Rahman Litu, Mahmuda Akter and Trishna Chakma ( assistant coaches), Mohammed Selim ( goalkeeping coach), Saeed Hasan ( media mamanger) and Laizu Yeasmin Lipa ( physiotherapist).