The first ever Bangamata U19 Women’s International Gold Cup 2019 is knocking on the door. Celebrating Fazilatunnesa Mujib’s life and ideals, the BFF and K-Sports are organizing the first ever Bangamata U19 Women’s International Gold Cup 2019 from Apr 22 to May 3. Six nations will compete for glory in this prestigious tournament which is expected to set a new milestone as Bangladesh women’s football marches forward. The tournament signifies women’s empowerment and looks forward to break barriers.
Hosts Bangladesh will take on United Arab Emirates when the first Bangamata U-19 Women’s International Gold Cup kicks off Monday (Apr 22) at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka.
The first match of the six-nation invitational tournament, organised by the Bangladesh Football Federation in memory of Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, will kick off at 6:00 p.m.
Bangladesh have been pitted in Group B, which also features Kyrgyzstan while Group A features Mongolia, Tajikistan and Laos.
The top two teams from each group will play in the semifinals, scheduled for Apr 29 and 30, before the final on May 3 at the same venue.
The Bangladesh team will look to make a positive start against the highest-ranked team of the tournament and thereby secure a semifinal berth, although the aim for the hosts is to keep the title at home.
Bangladesh, who won a number of regional tournaments at the age-group level including the SAFF Under-15 Women’s Championship and SAFF U-18 Women’s Championship as well as having qualified for the final round of the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship twice over the last three years, would look to add another trophy to their cabinet.
Three of the participating teams already arrived in Dhaka on Friday while the two other teams were scheduled to arrive Saturday night.
In a pre-meet press conference at the BFF House on Saturday, Bangladesh Head Coach Golam Rabbani Choton appeared confident about his team.
“Our team made some mistakes in the SAFF Women’s Championship but they’re trying to overcome these lapses,” he said. “The girls are well prepared to take the challenge.”
Bangladesh captain Mishrat Jahan Moushumi concurred. “This time we are well- prepared to win the title, named after the mother of our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.”
She said her team members “are fit”. “We’ve gathered enough experience from the previous tournament. Now, we’ll try to play good football in every match,” she said. “We’ve been preparing with victory in our mind.”
Bangladesh Football Federation's women wing Chairman and FIFA Council Member Mahfuza Akter Kiron, BFF General Secretary Md Abu Nayeem Shohag, team Manager Amirul Islam Babu, Vice-Captain Maria Manda and BFF Technical and Strategic Director Paul Thomas Smalley were also present at the media conference, local media reported.
Bangladesh squad
Rupna Chakma, Mahamuda Akter, Yeamin Akter, Masura Pervin, Mossammot Akhi Khatun, Mossammot Nargis Khatun, Sheuli Azim, Misrat Jahan Mousumi (C), Shamsunnahar, Nilufar Yeasmin Nila, Nazma Akter, Maria Manda (VC), Monika Chakma, Israt Jahan Ratna, Marzia, Mossamot Rajia Khatun, Sanjida Akter, Sirat Jahan Shopna, Krishna Rani Sarker, Shamsunnahar, Sajeda Khatun, Tohura Khatun, and Mossamot Sultana.
