How Bangladesh secured a place in AFC Women’s Asian Cup after a strike by seniors

Few expected that Bangladesh would stamp his ticket to the Women’s Asian Cup during a qualifying tournament last week after a year in which it had not won a match and lost some of the most experienced players.

The 128th in the world and 25th in Asia, the Bengali Tigers went to Myanmar without all time top scorer Sabina Khatun, who led a strike against protest against English coach Peter Butler in February.

Bangladesh, however, defended the chances by winning all three games in Yangon to surpass his group and to secure one of only 12 places in Australia next year, the first performance on the Continental Tournament.

«I am really proud of the players … these girls have sacrificed a lot,» Butler told Reuters on Sunday, before he flew to Dhaka, where a large audience gathered late at night to welcome the team at home. «They were placed by the mill and they picked the rewards.»

Butler, a former midfielder of West Ham United who spent two decades of coaching clubs and national teams in Asia and Africa, took over in March last year.

«When I came to the national team … Some of the players picked themselves,» said the 58-year-old.

«There was no discipline. Unfortunately, if there is no discipline, you are really on your way to nowhere.»

Butler introduced a new training regime and tried to spend some younger talent, which led to the rebellion of a group of established players.

They sent a letter to the federation in which they called for the resignation of Butler and accused him of favoritism, distributing the team, making inappropriate comments about their personal lives and insults.

«No coach likes to be accused of things that are completely unfounded and false,» said Butler. “They were lies, more lies, and it seems that it will never end. It can be annoying and tiring.

«I had no personal agenda … At the end of the day what I did for the improvement, the good thing about Bengalian football was.»

The Rebellie bustled when the players signed new contracts in March, although Khatun, Sanjida Akhter and Masura Parvin have not played for the country since.

‘A competitive advantage’

Butler plowed with his new regime, put a big focus on fitness and set major demands on the players.

«It had five hours of wake-up calls, six hours starts, 90 minutes sessions, high temperature, high intensity. Not easy,» he said.

«I think it was a decisive moment of change in the football of Bangladesh when discipline came to the foreground, where there used to be none.»

In a culture in which seniority is highly appreciated, he also continued his mission to spend younger talent to supplement the veterans.

More than half of the team he chose for last week’s qualifying tournament was younger than 20 years old, players he said they had no chance before.

«Young players bring a competitive advantage … it takes people out of their comfort zones. That’s what I did, I shaken it up,» he said.

Bangladesh started his Asian Cup-qualifying campaign with a 7-0 win over Bahrain, but the real test for the Butler team arrived when the host Myanmar adopts in a decisive battle for the single qualifying end of the group.

Ritu Porna Chakma, one of the rebel players, scored a brace to achieve a 2-1 victory over Myanmar, arranged in the world in 55th place. Bangladesh closed their group matches with a 7-0 win over Turkmenistan on Saturday.

«Our football brand has really surprised many people,» said Butler. «You must have faith and I had the belief in my players.»

However, Butler was not sure if he would continue in his role, with his contract ending soon.

«I don’t even know if I am in charge of the next tournament. I don’t know what my future has in store,» he said.

«Whether I am there or not, there is no important. I have achieved what I wanted to achieve … We got there, and history has come. I would like to think that I helped change the women’s football landscape in Bangladesh.»