Peter Butler has hinted that he may leave his role as head coach of the Bangladesh women’s national team. The English coach showed strong frustration over the lack of logistics and professional support. He said he will return to England and think about his future.
Bangladesh exited the AFC Women’s Asian Cup after a 4-0 loss to Uzbekistan in Perth, Australia. The defeat confirmed their elimination from the tournament.
After the match, Butler spoke at the press conference. The 59 year old coach said, “I am not staying here. I am going back to England next week. I will talk to my wife, take my dog for a walk and then think about my future. Because if I do not get the support and help that was expected, then it is not possible for me to continue in this role. I am not a magician.”
He also spoke about his long career. Butler sounded upset as he talked about his work in football. “I have done a lot of work in my career and I do not need to justify my work to anyone. I do not do any nonsense work. Now it is time to think about my future.”
Butler said the big gap in support compared to stronger teams made the job harder. He also questioned the attitude of some players in the match.
He pointed to the lack of video tools and cameras for analysis. Butler said, “We do not have those facilities. Sometimes it feels like a boxer going into a fight with one hand tied behind his back.”
The coach also spoke about the team’s second half performance against Uzbekistan. Bangladesh conceded three goals after the break. Butler said, “Our defence was very weak in the second half. To be honest, one or two players seemed to give up. That really disappointed me.”
Butler also compared the SAFF Championship with the Asian Cup. He said the difference between the two competitions is very big. He believes Bangladesh reached this stage with some luck rather than strong preparation.
He pointed to teams like the Philippines, Vietnam and India, who have clear plans for the future. Butler said, “In SAFF you are not really tested. The hard truth is that we were not in a position to compete at this level.”
