The Current SAFF Women's champions Bangladesh Football team arrived in Thimphu on Monday to play two FIFA Women's International Football (Tier-1) matches against the hosts Bhutan, reports UNB.
Bangladesh will play their first match of the two-match series on July 24 and the 2nd and last match on July 27, both at the Changlimithang Stadium in Bhutan's capital Thimphu, ahead of their preparation for the upcoming SAFF Women's Championship to be held in Nepal on October next.
Experienced forward Sabina Khatun will lead the comparatively youthful Bangladesh team in Bhutan with mid fielder Maria Manda as vice-captain. The squad consists of 23 footballers and eight officials.
This time Bangladesh Women's team will miss the services of vital players like Tohura Khatun, Shamsunnahar Jr, Afeida Khondakar, Shaheda Akter Ripa for the HSC exam and Krishna Rani Sarkar and Aklima Khatun for injuries.
Bangladesh Women's team, under their new British Head Coach Peter James Butler, played a two-match preparatory home series against the Chinese Taipei and lost both the matches by 0-4 and 0-1 goal.
Ahead of the Bhutan tour, Bangladesh captain Sabina Khatun said, "we played defensive football against stronger Chinese Taipei, but we will play attacking football against Bhutan for win."
Earlier, the Lebanon tour of Bangladesh Women's Football team was cancelled as the Foreign Ministry of Bangladesh did not give clearance due to security reasons.
Later, the scheduled Bhutan tour of Bangladesh Women's team to play two preparatory matches against the hosts was also postponed earlier for not getting flight schedule in time and it was finally rescheduled for the current programs.
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