‘The federation want ready-made players — no one wants to build them’

How many players currently train on this field in Kalsindur?

Right now, around 35 to 36 girls practise here. Everyone trains together—there's no age-based division. The girls don't have to pay any fee to train at this academy. However, boys also train here, and they pay a small monthly fee, because we need to regularly buy balls and other equipment. None of the boys have made it to the national team yet, but they regularly play in the Dhaka Second Division and the Pioneer League. Around 20 girls from here have played for the national team. 

How many girls from Kalsindur are in the national team at the moment?

Currently, five players from our academy are part of the national squad. Maria Manda, Sheuli Azim, Tohura Khatun, Shamsunnahar Senior, and Shamsunnahar Junior. In the 2022 SAFF-winning women's team, eight players were from our academy. Among the girls who are currently training here, quite a few have the potential to play for the national team. There aren't many strong pipelines for women's football in Bangladesh. Among the few that do exist, ours is the largest. We have a good number of junior players. There are some juniors in Rangamati, Thakurgaon, and Rangpur. Apart from that, I'm not aware of any other pipeline with promising juniors.

In your view, what are the current issues in women's football?

Nowadays, there's this unhealthy obsession with winning championships—no matter what it takes. Take this year's U-17 girls' football, for instance. Rajshahi Division beat Mymensingh Division to become champions. I can write and sign my name on a paper saying not a single player on that Rajshahi team is actually 17 or under. I can prove it with documents. They're using overage players in age-based tournaments just to win, and no one is saying anything—no one is watching. If this continues, the future of football is bleak. If Bangladesh doesn't put an end to age fraud, football will be destroyed—especially women's football.

Can you give an example of age fraud?

A girl studying in her second year of college played in the U-12 tournament. Her official education documents say she's 13 years old! Where will you go with this? There's nothing we can do. We've raised this issue many times, but it hasn't helped. You are from the media—you can expose this. If you investigate, you'll see what I'm saying is true. I'm speaking from pain. Many of my girls have dropped out because of this. Think about it: if a 12-year-old has to compete against an 18-year-old, she won't be able to keep up physically. She'll feel like she's not good enough and drop out. Then there are injuries. Once injured, most girls don't return to football. There's also no proper treatment available for them—that's another barrier.

Of all places, why has Kalsindur been so successful?

Our biggest advantage is that we have three institutions—primary school, high school, and college—all located together. That allows girls from all three institutions to practise together on the same field. It all started in 2011 when we won the primary school football tournament. That win sparked a sort of awakening in Kalsindur.

How much support do you get from the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF)?

We get no support at all from the federation. We've applied for help many times, but it's never worked. It's been over a decade, and I haven't received even a single football from them—let alone any other kind of support. We can't approach BFF directly; we have to go through the DFA—the District Football Association. Whenever we go there, we're told the same thing: "An application has been made, you'll get it soon." But nothing ever comes. I've been through this cycle many times. No one from the federation has ever contacted us. If we go to them with our problems, they tell us to talk to DFA. DFA helps us as much as they can, but it's very minimal.

So what exactly is the issue with the federation? What do they say?

There's no communication with them at all. Frankly, we're morally defeated. Let me give you an example. Recently, in Rajshahi, they awarded certificates to various academies. I was there too. They charged us Tk 2,000 each just for lunch. I had to bear all travel and accommodation costs myself. Even sending just two people costs at least Tk 7,000 to 8,000.

Then overall, what's your opinion on the federation?

They just sit in chairs and talk big. They have no understanding of how a football player is nurtured in a remote village. Those working at BFF—do they know how hard it is to teach an eight-year-old how to kick a ball properly? Can they speak on that? Only those who actually do it, like us, know what it takes. The federation just wants ready-made players—those who already know how to play, how to make a tackle. At most, they improve fitness. We prepare the players entirely. But we have to collect everything—from footballs to gear—by begging. I have to go door-to-door. But how many times can you go ask people? How many times will someone give?

Besides equipment, what other challenges do you face here?

There's no proper arrangement for the girls' food and nutrition. In a physically demanding sport like football, you can't progress without proper nutrition. I try to give the girls milk and eggs, but that too is collected from different people. Like, say you came to visit, I'd tell you I need this and that—you give me some money, and that covers the girls' food for a month. When that's over, I have to go ask someone else. That's how we're managing.

Most of the girls who come to play football—around 95%—are from extremely poor families. They come with the hope of changing their lives through football. But not everyone gets that opportunity. I'm a father myself. I would never let my daughter pursue football. I'm in this sector, so I know the reality. As a conscious father, I'd rather have my daughter study and get a job. Because in football, apart from a handful, no one is really getting anything. Yet they all come with big dreams—hoping for stipends and opportunities. But they receive none of it.

Where do you see the future of women's football in Bangladesh?

If things continue like this, we won't be able to progress any further. I'm surprised we even qualified for the Asian Cup. I think we were just lucky. From what I know of football, I believe it was just luck. Listen, no matter what you do—if you don't prioritise the grassroots, nothing will work. There are 285 academies in the country. Can BFF say they've given even one football to a single academy? If anyone had received one, surely we would have too. But no one has. Then what's the point of running academies?

Since you're not receiving proper support, how are you managing personally as a coach?

I've passed my intermediate exams. I have a family and children. I earn nothing from running this academy—it's entirely voluntary. No one is helping me financially. So how will I sustain myself? Maybe now my father is alive and supporting the family. But when he's no longer around, I'll have to take responsibility. What will happen to the academy then? No one from the federation has ever even offered me a cup of tea. All they do is talk. No one actually does any real work. I don't know how much longer I can keep this going.