Bangladesh women’s football team left Dhaka for Pakistan on Sunday to participate in the 3rd SAFF Women’s Championship, to be held in Islamabad from November 11 to 20.
Bangladesh who played in the semi-finals of the inaugural edition of the championship at Dhaka in 2010 were eliminated from the group stage in the next edition in Sri Lanka two years later, when they could only manage a win against lowly Bhutan.
Japanese coach Tsukitate Norio, who took over the charge of Bangladesh women’s team last month, said they will be aiming for the final this time.
‘Please don’t ask me about the results and the conditions of the team but one thing is that I don’t want to lose and my target is to play in the final,’ Niro said at a press conference on Sunday.
‘I believe in my players. I am sure they do their best and I will also try my best,’ said Norio.
‘Playing any tournament is always pressure for both the players and the coach but again I want to say that they will do their best.’
The Japanese coach has little idea about the opponents as the draw of the tournament will be held only today. Nero, however, considers India and Nepal as the prospective challengers, though he refused to share any information he had about the teams.
Meanwhile, skipper Suinu Pru Marma was also confident that they were now an improved side than what they were in 2012.
She believes that the inclusion of the strikers from the Under-16 squad have brought a much needed balance in the team.
Among the 29-member squad that left for Islamabad include 20 players, four coaches, the head of delegation, the team manager, the head of media, one official and one referee. No doctors or physiotherapist were included in the squad.
-With New Age input
