Choton returns

Successful women's football coach Golam Rabbani Choton and his deputy Mahbubur Rahman Litu yesterday returned to the training camp of the under-16 women's team following intervention of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) president Kazi Salahuddin.

Choton and Litu had on Saturday left the training camp over disagreements with BFF's technical and strategic director Paul Smalley, who had criticised Choton's coaching system and was trying to bring some positional changes to the players. 

Both coaches conducted training yesterday morning before the BFF boss discussed the matter with them at the BFF House.  

“The problem is simple. The girls have been under pressure because of hard training. We have to understand the situation. The girls will play at a relatively different level from what are used to playing. So we have to prepare them before sending them to compete,” Salahuddin told reporters after the meeting with Choton and Litu.

Though the women's football committee chairman Mahfuza Akter Kiron still termed the news report on the incident as a false and twisted one, BFF's vice president Tabith M Awal admitted the fact.

“You have filed a report after hearing the problem; you didn't wait for the solution. Now the problem has been solved but I know you will not write it. I hope you will write everything,” said Tabith at a press conference which was arranged for declaration of the team's sponsorship for the J-Green Sakai Lady's Festival in Japan.

Tabith informed that Smalley will be working as adviser for the team during their Japan tour and will be advising on different aspects such as fitness, food, nutrition etc.

Walton will sponsor the team, who will play four matches in Japan as part of their preparation for September's AFC U-16 Championship in Thailand.

“As Japan Football Association is bearing all expenses of the U-16 team for their Japan tour, we don't have much to provide. However, we are giving them all clothing,” said Walton's additional director FM Iqbal Bin Anwar. 

The 24-member team will leave for Japan tomorrow.