Bangladesh’s head coach, Peter Butler, has emphasized the importance of challenging matches in the team’s preparation for the upcoming AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia. The national team, known as the women in red and green, is gearing up to travel to Bangkok for two international games against Thailand. Despite being ranked 51 places above Bangladesh, Thailand did not qualify for the Asian Cup. The matches are scheduled for October 24 and 27.
During a press conference held at the BFF House, Butler stressed the significance of focusing on performance rather than just results. He highlighted the need to set realistic expectations and goals for each game. Bangladesh initiated their training regimen about three weeks ago at KEPZ in Chittagong before relocating to Dhaka. Upon their return, nine players who had been competing in Bhutan’s domestic league joined the squad.
Butler mentioned the team’s progress in building unity and team spirit during the intense training camp. He emphasized the importance of maintaining player fitness and avoiding burnout. The coach expressed his desire to witness a competitive performance from the players, especially considering the significant leap in competition at the international level.
The English coach reiterated his aspiration for the Bangladeshi team to face tougher opponents in the lead-up to the Asian Cup, including potential matches against state teams in Australia. He dismissed the idea of playing against club sides in Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong, deeming them insufficiently challenging. Butler emphasized the need for international fixtures against stronger teams, suggesting matches against countries like Azerbaijan or Iran as more suitable options.