Bangladesh’s national women’s football team are travelling from Thailand to Goa, India on Thursday 21 May ahead of the Women’s SAFF Championship, with forward Ritu Porna leading the chorus of confidence after two weeks of intensive preparation at Bangkok’s Alpine Training Ground.
The tournament gets under way on 25 May, with Bangladesh facing Maldives on 28 May before taking on hosts and strong favourites India on 31 May. Having won back-to-back SAFF titles in Nepal in 2022 and 2024, the team arrive in Goa with their sights firmly set on a historic third consecutive championship.
The squad completed their conditioning camp in Bangkok with a final session split across three groups, focusing on positional awareness, tactical organisation, and technical discipline under head coach Peter Butler. Two practice matches were also played during the fortnight, with Butler expressing satisfaction at the performances in both.
Ritu Porna said the sweltering heat in Bangkok had been a deliberate part of their preparation and would serve the team well in Goa’s similarly warm conditions. She called on fans back home to get behind the side as they chase history.
“We trained in intense heat and sunshine here,” she said. “All of us as players are ready. We will try to give our best at the SAFF Championship. Our goal is to retain the title. We have trained here for two weeks and we are ready both physically and mentally.”
Coach Peter Butler paid tribute to the Bangladesh Football Federation for arranging the camp despite the considerable expense involved, and expressed his belief that the preparation would prove its worth when the tournament begins.
“The facilities at the Alpine Training Ground in Bangkok were very good,” he said. “It was costly, but it was excellent that the federation made this arrangement for the girls. The opposition will be strong, but these girls are experienced. They know how to overcome obstacles and win titles. Whether I am here or not, I want to leave behind a team that will take Bangladesh to an even stronger position in the future. They played two practice matches here and performed very well.”
Bangladesh will begin formal training in India from 22 May following their arrival in Goa.
