Even after a 12‑0 victory over Bhutan, Bangladesh’s head coach Peter James Butler expressed his frustration over the condition of the Pokhara Rangshala Stadium pitch, calling it unsuitable for quality football.
The SAFF Women’s Under-19 Championship match on Saturday saw Bangladesh dominate, with Munki Akter, Trishna Rani and Alpi Akter each scoring hat-tricks. Despite the emphatic win, Butler’s focus remained on the playing surface rather than the scoreline.
Video footage revealed a patchy pitch, with areas of sparse grass alternating between green and brown. “Frankly, we haven’t come here just to play, and I genuinely believe this field is not suitable for good football,” Butler said. “The pitch has been sprayed to look green, but in my view, it is unfair to ask two teams committed to developing their players and playing quality football to compete under these conditions. I’m not blaming anyone; I just want to say the field is not up to standard.”
The coach noted that he had tried to make as many substitutions as possible to cope with the surface. “I think we managed to play somewhat effectively. I wouldn’t say we played brilliantly because on this field, you cannot play proper football. However, we adapted well to the conditions, and I am impressed by the girls’ mentality, dedication and team spirit,” he added.
While the scoreline reflected Bangladesh’s dominance, Butler acknowledged that the pitch remained a serious concern. “Sometimes you have to be grateful for small achievements. The field was the same for both teams, and I’m sure Bhutan was not happy with it either. But the scoreline shows our control, and the match was one-sided,” he said.
