Captaincy surprise as Bangladesh eye SAFF title defence

The curtain rises on the eighth edition of the SAFF Women’s Championship at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa on Monday, with two-time defending champions Bangladesh eyeing a hattrick of titles.

The opening day features two matches, with six-time runners-up Nepal taking on Bhutan before five-time champions India face Maldives. Bangladesh, placed in Group B, begin their campaign against Maldives on May 28 before meeting India three days later.

This edition carries added significance after both Bangladesh and India returned to the regional stage following their participation in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, where they earned praise for spirited displays against continental heavyweights China, South Korea and Japan.

Nepal, meanwhile, are eager to reassert themselves after narrowly missing out on a place in the Women’s Asian Cup. With Pakistan absent from the tournament, emerging sides Maldives, Bhutan and Sri Lanka are also determined to challenge the region’s traditional powers and showcase their recent progress.

Bangladesh have entrusted experienced midfielder Maria Manda with the captaincy, preferring her leadership over the younger Afeida Khandoker.

“We were crowned champions in the last two editions and we know every team here is strong, so there will be pressure,” Maria said at the official pre-tournament press conference on Sunday. “It is a new edition and there will be challenges. We will try to play our natural game and take it match by match.”

Coach Peter Butler, who took his charges for a camp in Thailand and played two matches against local clubs there en route to Goa, is confident about his charges’ ability to retain the title.

“Our preparations have gone well and we are here looking forward to defending our title,” Butler said.

The English coach also described Bangladesh’s Women’s Asian Cup campaign as a valuable learning experience rather than a disappointment, despite losing all three matches.

“I don’t think it was disappointing at all. I thought we put in really credible performances,” he said. “It was a great opportunity for the players to make a mark for themselves, but more importantly, we want to create history (in Goa).”

India coach Crispin Chettri, meanwhile, stressed that the tournament forms part of the Blue Tigresses’ long-term preparation for the Women’s Asian Cup.

“When you are hosts, you always want to win the tournament, but our benchmark right now is how we can progress as a country and build towards the Asian Cup,” Chettri said. “Our preparation for the Asian Cup starts now.”

Nepal coach Nabin Neupane is equally determined to finally end his country’s long wait for the title after six losing finals.

“We have lost many finals. This time our target is to become champions. We are here to win this championship,” Nabin said.