Peter Butler is gearing up his team for the upcoming challenges of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup next year as the Bangladesh women’s football team faces a formidable Thailand team in the first of two international friendly matches today. The game is set to commence at 4:00 pm (Bangladesh time) at the Bangkok Thonburi University Football Training Centre.
After a rigorous three-week training stint at KEPZ in Chattogram, the Bangladeshi team arrived in Bangkok on Tuesday. They have been training for the past two days to adapt to the local climate and are now prepared to take on Thailand, a team ranked 51 spots higher in the FIFA Women’s Rankings.
Goalkeepers Rupna Chakma and Swarna Rani Mandal are optimistic about their performance and are aiming for a positive outcome against the formidable hosts. Rupna expressed readiness for the match, stating, “We have followed the training instructions diligently. We are now geared up for tomorrow’s game and will strive to deliver our best to secure a victory.” Swarna echoed the sentiment, mentioning that the team displayed a serious and focused approach during the final training session in their quest for a triumph over Thailand.
While the players are eyeing a victory against Thailand, who missed out on the AFC Women’s Asian Cup finals this year despite their history of making it 17 times, coach Peter Butler appears more focused on gaining valuable experience and rebuilding the team for future competitions. Before the team’s departure to Bangkok, Butler emphasized the importance of a competitive performance, stating, “You cannot approach the game with a win-at-all-costs mindset. It’s essential to be realistic and understand the objectives. My goal is to see a competitive showing from the team.”