As the SAFF Women’s Championship in Goa looms closer, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) is actively piecing together a meticulous four-week preparatory plan, engineered entirely towards securing an unprecedented hat-trick of regional titles, reports Daily Sun.
With traditional powerhouses India desperate to reclaim their crown on home soil, BFF Vice-President Fahad Karim has detailed the federation's ongoing strategy to ensure Peter Butler's squad arrives in peak condition.
The foundation of this roadmap begins on home soil with conditioning phases in Chattogram and Dhaka. Crucially, Head Coach Butler opted to delay the start of the camp, a pragmatic piece of man-management designed to protect his players.
"Head Coach Peter Butler specifically requested to delay the camp," Karim explained. "He recognised the physical toll the recent schedule has taken on the squad and insisted they needed proper recovery time before we subject them to high-pressure training again."
The crux of the title defence, however, relies on an intensive overseas camp, with the BFF currently weighing up concrete options in China and Thailand. "Our absolute priority is to secure two highly competitive matches against non-South Asian clubs before heading to the SAFF Championship," Karim noted.
"A two-week camp in either China or Thailand, playing against their top-tier domestic sides, will provide the ultimate preparation."
Following that overseas stint, the squad intends to fly straight to India around 21 May, days before the 25 May kick-off at the Fatorda Stadium. This logistical shift reflects a broader administrative change. "It is vital that the squad has ample time to fully acclimatise to Goa's specific weather and pitch conditions."
While the federation is backing the team to retain their crown, Karim was quick to caution against complacency. "Securing a historic hat-trick of titles is our ultimate objective, but we must remain grounded. We have to acknowledge the reality of the tournament: regional rivals like India and Nepal have developed significantly."
Looking beyond Goa, the BFF is also laying the groundwork for the continent's biggest stage. "We are in advanced talks with two new expatriate players aged 17 and 18," Karim revealed. "While integrating them in time for the SAFF Championship is a logistical challenge, we are actively preparing their documentation with the upcoming Asian Games in Japan firmly in our sights."
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
