Bangladesh captain and defensive pillar Afeida Khandaker, along with midfield heartbeat Sapna Rani, have departed for Bhutan to join Royal Thimphu College Women’s Football Club (RTC WFC) ahead of the 2025 AFC Women’s Champions League preliminary stage.
The fixtures will take place in Laos, a familiar setting for Afeida and Sapna, who recently played key roles in helping the Bangladesh U-20 side progress through the AFC Asian Cup qualifying stage. Their success followed similar contributions to the senior national team’s campaign in Myanmar in June and July.
At RTC Women, they will reunite with national teammates Tohura Khatun, Shamsunnahar Jr and Shaheda Akter Ripa, who have already made their debuts in the ongoing Bhutan Women’s National League.
RTC Women, the only Bhutanese club participating in the continental competition, have been drawn in Group D. They will face Kaohsiung Attackers FC of Chinese Taipei on 25 August, Naegohyang Women’s FC of DPR Korea on 28 August, and Master FC of Lao PDR on 31 August, in what marks the club’s second appearance in the tournament.
Last season, Bangladesh internationals Monika Chakma, Maria Manda and Sabina Khatun represented RTC Women. This year, Monika and Sabina have signed for Paro Women, while Maria is playing for Thimphu City Women.