Women footballers return after break with not much to look for

With no domestic or international engagement on the cards, the national women's team footballers started returning to the residential camp yesterday after enjoying a five-day break as the Women's Super League (WSL) failed to kick off.

The announced start of the proposed league has been deferred twice -- May 15 and June 10, leaving the players frustrated and they asked for a break from continuous training.

"Some 15 players have joined the camp [till 7:00pm] and the rest are on their way to Dhaka. Only Tahura Khatun will join the camp a couple of days later as she is suffering from fever," assistant coach Mahbubur Rahman Litu informed, adding that the players will resume training this morning.

"Maria [Manda], Monika [Chakma] and Sabina [Khatun] requested us for four or five days' break. I conveyed the message to Paul [Smalley] sir and [Mahfuza Akter] Kiran apa, who granted a five-day break," added Litu.

Krishna Rani Sarker and Sanjida Akter were the first to return to Dhaka after enjoying their break in Rangamati along with Anuching Mogini and others.

"I am now at the camp. I had a fine time during the break and I'm waiting for another break ahead for Eid. Of course, I am mentally happy after the break," Krishna told The Daily Star. "Actually, I know nothing about our next engagements and don't want to say anything about the WSL."

As acting general secretary Emran Hasan Tushar did not respond to calls, assistant coach Litu informed that BFF is yet to finalsie FIFA friendly matches but is still trying to use the upcoming FIFA window.

Though there was no explanation regarding the deferment of the league by the BFF, Fahad Karim, CEO of the tournament's rights holder K-Sports, gave his reasons for the deferral.

"The challenge is that I am not getting live broadcasting slot because of schedules of upcoming SAFF Championship while the cricket series between Afghanistan and Bangladesh conflicts with the WSL schedules. Out of the 13 match days, we would not be able to broadcast six match days live despite the league having commercial value," Fahad told The Daily Star.

"Another challenge was that one of the four franchise owners backed out, so I didn't want to start the league haphazardly. The other owners also requested me to not hold the league during the month of financial closing," Fahad said, adding that he would sit with the BFF officials within a couple of days to clear everything.

Asked whether there is any chance of the league getting underway soon, Fahad said, "Now I have confirmed all four franchises for the participation and WSL will be held. We may not do much for the players in the inaugural season but I think they will be happy with the first season."