US born Bangladeshi triplet is in city hoping to seal their place in the final squad of the Bangladesh Under-16 women’s football team ahead of the AFC Women’s Under-16 Championship qualifiers.
The championship is scheduled to be held in Dhaka from August 27 to September 5.
The sisters — Meleni Apurba Rahaman, Melenia Apurba Rahaman and Meleniam Apurba Rahaman —joined the ongoing preliminary camp under the tutelage of Golam Rabbani Choton at the Bangladesh Football Federation Artificial Turf on Friday.
Among the trio, Malenia plays as an attacking while Meleni and Meleniam play as midfielder and central defender.
They came to BFF accompanied by their elder sister Miami Rahman, 20, who was also a footballer and attended the trial for Indo-Bangla Games.
BFF officials said Miami had impressed during the trial but had to return without representing Bangladesh as the Games had been cancelled.
The triplet is studying in grade 11 in USA and also playing for Division-1 club New York Rush Patriots.
Miami said her triplet sisters arrived in Bangladesh for the first time this week.
‘We are playing together since our childhood and my father, Mizanur Rahaman, wished to see us playing for the Bangladesh national team, so we are here,’ said Miami.
‘We are eager to represent out motherland and I hope my all sisters will get the final call-up because they are very skilled players and they are playing football all over the year.’
Their paternal uncle Tipu Sultan said his elder brother Mizanur, who hails from Munshiganj district and left the country for USA about 25 years ago, was also football lover.
‘My brother always followed the matches of the Dhaka league when he was here,’ said Tipu.
‘He put his daughters in the football field from their childhood and his dream is to see her all four daughters to represent the country.’
The triplet attended a warm-up match on Friday when Malenia, who played in attacking third, scored two goals. Despite their reasonable show, coach Choton refused to guarantee them a place.
‘They had a trial today after a long journey from USA and it is too early to make any comments on them,’ said Choton.
‘We have already 32 players in our camp and we want to observe them for the next three to four days before taking the final decision.’
BFF’s women’s wings chairman Mahfuza Akter Kiron said she had a long contract with Mizan before bringing the girls here for the trial.
‘I had a long contract with their father who earlier showed his interest to send his daughters,’ said Kiron.
‘If any of them is selected for the final squad, then we will communicate with their father to stay here until the AFC U-16 Championship Qualifiers is completed.’
Miami said they will stay in Dhaka for the next two months and also submitted their all documents to the BFF to apply for the Bangladeshi passport.
‘Our plan is to stay here for the next two months and in the meantime, we will prepare Bangladeshi passports for my sisters,’ said Miami.
Bangladesh were drawn in Group C of the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship Qualifiers along with Iran, Chinese Taipei, United Arab Emirates, Kyrgyzstan and Singapore.
-With New Age input
