Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) welcomed the nation’s first-ever Women’s SAFF Futsal champions in style as Sabina Khatun, Krishna Rani Sarkar, Masura Parvin, and the rest of the team returned from Thailand. The players, who remained unbeaten in the tournament, were greeted with floral tributes, banners, and a spectacular parade in an open-top bus at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
Fans lined the streets as the team drove through Dhaka, waving placards and cheering the champions. The bus, decorated with images of the victorious players and a banner proclaiming “A story of victory in red and green,” carried the team to Hatirjheel Amphitheatre, where the Bangladesh Football Federation hosted a formal reception.
Captain Sabina Khatun led the celebrations, wearing a garland of flowers and holding the silver-coloured trophy aloft. Smiling broadly, she acknowledged the support of fans and praised the team’s journey.
“Despite your busy schedules, you have shown support as we bring honour to our country. That is where our motivation comes from. This achievement is for all of you,” Sabina said. “We are grateful to everyone who helped us reach this point – from the federation president, chairman, vice-chairman, and futsal committee chairman, to our coaches, physiotherapists, media staff, and kitmen. Your dedication has made this possible. Every win we share on social media reflects the passion of the people, and that inspires the team to play and win.”
The team celebrated enthusiastically on the bus, tossing flowers to fans, waving the national flag, taking selfies, and even moving to the rhythm of the popular song “Apt.” Iranian coach Saeed Khodarahmi, who accompanied the players, expressed his joy at being part of Bangladesh’s first futsal triumph.
The coach said the title was a remarkable achievement given the limited preparation time, stressing that the team had trained for only five months before the tournament. He added that futsal has enormous potential in Bangladesh and credited the players, the federation, and the support staff, saying their hard work had been truly rewarded by the championship triumph.
BFF president Tabith Awal highlighted the role played by Matsushima Sumaiya, revealing that she was instrumental in pushing for Bangladesh’s participation in the futsal tournament. He explained that although the initial proposal had come for the women’s national team, Sumaiya’s confidence and determination played a decisive role in turning the idea into reality.
The tournament, held in Bangkok, featured seven teams. Bangladesh finished unbeaten with six wins and one draw, conceding points only in a 3–3 draw against Bhutan. Victories came against India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, as Bangladesh dominated the inaugural edition.
Sabina Khatun finished as the tournament’s top scorer with 14 goals, leading from the front throughout the campaign.
The homecoming marked the third time Sabina has returned in champion style. She previously captained Bangladesh to SAFF Women’s Football Championship titles in 2022 and 2024, each followed by a similar open-top bus reception at the airport. Tabith Awal said Sabina’s legacy would be remembered in history, adding that her leadership and contribution deserved the highest recognition.
