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The SAFF U-17 Women’s Championship, featuring Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, and Nepal, will take place in Thimphu, Bhutan, from August 20 to 31. The tournament will follow a round-robin format, with each team playing two matches against every other team. The team with the highest points will lift the trophy.
Bangladesh are the reigning champions, having won the U-16 title in Nepal last year. This time, led by captain Arpita Biswas, the team is determined to claim the U-17 crown. The squad departed for Bhutan yesterday, and before leaving, Arpita expressed their ambition: “Our preparation has been excellent. With a mix of new and experienced players, we have a strong team. We aim to win every match.”
Bangladesh will face hosts Bhutan in their opening match on August 20, followed by India on August 22. They will play Nepal on August 24 and 27, meet Bhutan again on August 29, and conclude their campaign against India on August 31. All matches will be held at Thimphu’s Changlimithang Stadium.
The age categories for SAFF women’s tournaments have varied over time. Until 2023, no U-17 tournament had been held. Since 2017, four U-15 tournaments took place, followed by the inaugural U-17 event in 2023 and a U-16 tournament in 2024.
Age limits for SAFF tournaments, including U-18 to U-20, have also shifted over time to align with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualifiers. Purushottam Kattel, SAFF General Secretary, told *Prothom Alo* yesterday, “We adjust our tournaments based on AFC’s qualification formats. The age group for a given year depends on AFC’s qualifying rounds. We aim to hold these events before AFC qualifiers to help teams prepare. For instance, this year’s AFC U-20 qualifiers prompted us to organize the SAFF U-20.”
Since 2017, seven of Bangladesh’s nine SAFF titles have come in age-group categories, with the senior team winning the SAFF Championship in 2022 and defending it last year. Most of these successes came under former coach Golam Rabbani, who stepped down in 2023. Saiful Bari, a former national footballer, took over, followed by Peter Butler in March 2024. Despite coaching changes, the team’s winning streak has continued, with two titles already secured under Butler.
Though proud of the team’s achievements, Butler downplayed the focus on titles: “I don’t keep count of trophies. But the progress of these girls brings me joy. If they continue this way, no success is out of reach.”
Golam Rabbani, who coached the women’s team from 2009 to 2023, is optimistic: “Our girls are performing well now. We’re definitely favorites. We can hope to complete the circle this time.”
Rabbani believes the U-17 team will draw inspiration from the senior and U-20 teams, both of which qualified for the AFC Asian Cup for the first time. “The younger players are motivated by the seniors,” he said. “The team in Bhutan, with players like Arpita, Preeti, and Alfi, has some top-quality talent.”
