When Bangladesh will go into the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, all eyes will be on Monika Chakma, the youngest ever footballer, who broke into the national side at the age of 14.
Midfielder Monika was selected for the national team after her superior performance in the AFC Under-14 Girls’ Regional Championship in Colombo in March where she scored highest four goals for Bangladesh, who ended the competition in third place.
Monika, also considered as a penalty specialist, was looking to use the break to pursue her goal of becoming the country’s top woman footballer in future.
‘I was very astonished when I was told that I have been inducted into the national team,’ said a surprised Monika, who idolises national team strikers Sabina Khatun and Aungmraching Marma.
‘I started dreaming of taking up the game of football after watching them, I want to be like them,’ said the tribal girl from Rangamati.
Monika started playing football in 2010 when she was only 11 and she showed glimpses of her potential when she was recognised as the best player of the Chittagong division at the Bangamata Fazilatunnesa Gold Cup football tournament.
But she was considered for the under-14 national team when the Bangladesh Football Federation spotted her at an open trial which was held in Rangamati.
Monika was also inspired by her parents, especially her mother who also played football in the past, but she failed to play at the national level.
‘My mother also played football but she was never called to the national team. That is why she always wants to see me as a top class footballer. To fulfil her dream I chose to play football. My vision is to represent the country at the top level.’
‘Initially I used to play cricket but I failed to prove myself, then I started playing football,’ she added.
Just two months back at the Colombo tournament, Monika scored three goals from the penalty spot and one from a free-kick and so she is rightfully considered as a penalty specialist.
‘When I got a chance in the school team [Moghachhari Govt Primary School] I was very weak to take a shot on goal. At that time one of my teachers guided me how to shoot a penalty.
‘I started to practise more and more and sometimes my legs ached but I continued to kick the ball. That is the reason why I am successful with spot-kicks more often than not,’ explained Monika, who hails from a Hill Tract district renowned for producing a large number of women footballers.
Monika thanks the senior fellows of the team for their kind co-operation.
‘Everybody gives me support and all of my colleagues help me to raise my confidence level. If I get a chance to play I will try to score more and more and I hope we will play good football in the upcoming tournament,’ said an upbeat Monika, who is a fan of Lionel Messi, the Argentine goal machine after the Dhaka tour of Argentina in 2011.
‘I think Messi is our great inspiration to become a footballer after his tour to Bangladesh two years ago. I always follow his playing style and try to play like him,’ said the Class-X student Monika.
-With New Age input
