Bangladesh team off to Colombo to play in SAFF Women's Football

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A 27-member Bangladesh Women's Football squad left Dhaka for Sri Lanka Tuesday to participate in the 2nd SAFF Women' s Championship beginning in Colombo Friday, reports UNB.
Trishna Chakma is leading the Bangladesh team comprising 20 players and seven officials while Suinu Pru Marma is the vice-captain.
Bangladesh have been placed in four-team Group A of the regional meet along with their giant neighbours India, hosts Sri Lanka and Bhutan while Group B comprises Nepal, Pakistan, the Maldives and Afghanistan.
Bangladesh will play the inaugural match with India on Sept 7 at 8:30 am at the AFC ground in Colombo. They will also play Bhutan on Sept 9 at 3:30 pm and meet hosts Sri Lanka on Sept 11, also at 3:30 pm, in the remaining group engagements.
The group champions and runners-up teams will play the semi-finals on Sept 14 -- first semis at 8:30 am and the 2nd semis at 3:30 pm.
Chairman of the BFF Women's Wing Sirajul Islam Bachchu told a press conference Sunday: "In our group, India is far better than us. For us, it will be a big achievement if we can reach the final."
However, head coach of Bangladesh team Golam Rabbani Choton said:
"Our first target is to reach the semifinal after beating hosts Sri Lanka and Bhutan."
Bangladesh Captain Trishna Chakma said: "This time preparation is good. But it would have been better if we had more time to train."
Fourteen players of the 15-member Bangladesh squad for the first SAFF Championship have been included in the Colombo-bound team along with three new players-custodian Rowshan Ara, Rupa Akhter and Munmun Akhter.
In the first SAFF Women's Championship in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh made an early exit from the semi-final stage losing to Nepal despite beating Sri Lanka 2-0 and Bhutan 9-0 in the group matches.
Sri Lanka-bound Bangladesh squad: Players - Trishna Chakma (captain), Suinu Pru Marma (vice-captain), Sabina Akhter, Muslima Akhter Molly, Rowshan Ara (GK), Farhana Khatun, Khaleda Khatun, Suinu Ching Marma, Beli Khatun, Surovi Akhter Eti, Rupa Akhter, Nubai Ching Marma, Maynu Marma, Asia Khatun Bithi, Mirona, Sabina Khatun, Aungmra Ching Marma, Munmun, Akhter, Shamim Akhter Rupa and Jahanara Akhter Janu.
Officials - Nazma Shamim (team manager), Golam Rabbani Choton (head coach), AKM Nuruzzaman (asstt coach), Ahsan Ahmed Amit (media officer), Dr Nilufar Yasmeen (team doctor), Lajul Nahar Karim Koshturi (equipment manager) and Nasrin Akhter Baby (interpreter).