
Soccer-Butler's Bangladeshi battlers secure historic Women's Asian Cup spot
July 7 - Few expected Bangladesh to stamp their ticket to the Women's Asian Cup at a qualifying tournament last week after a year in which they had failed to win a game and lost some of their most experienced players.
Ranked 128th in the world and 25th in Asia, the Bengal Tigresses headed to Myanmar without all-time top-scorer Sabina Khatun, who led a walk out in protest at English coach Peter Butler in February.
Bangladesh defied the odds, however, by winning all three games in Yangon to top their group and secure one of only 12 spots in Australia next year, their first appearance at the continental tournament.
"I'm really proud of the players ... these girls have sacrificed a lot," Butler told Reuters on Sunday, before flying to Dhaka where a large crowd gathered late at night to welcome the team home. "They were put through the mill and they have reaped the rewards."
Butler, a former West Ham United midfielder who has spent two decades coaching clubs and national teams across Asia and Africa, took over in March last year.
"When I came into the national team ... some of the players were picking themselves," the 58-year-old said.
"There was no discipline. Unfortunately, if there's no discipline, you're really on the road to nowhere."
Butler introduced a new training regimen and tried to bring through some younger talent, leading to the rebellion of a group of established players.
They sent a letter to the federation calling for Butler's dismissal and accusing him of favouritism, dividing the team, making inappropriate comments about their personal lives and insulting them.
"No coach likes to be accused of things that are totally unfounded and untrue," Butler said.
"It was lies, more lies, and it seems like it's never going to end. It can be tedious and tiring.
"I didn't have a personal agenda... at the end of the day, what I've done has been for the betterment, the good of Bangladeshi football."
The rebellion fizzled out when the players signed new contracts in March, although Khatun, Sanjida Akhter and Masura Parvin have not played for the country since.
'A COMPETITIVE EDGE'
Butler ploughed on with his new regimen, placing a big focus on fitness and making big demands on the players.
"It had five o'clock wake-up calls, six o'clock starts, 90-minute sessions, high-tempo, high-intensity. Not easy," he said.
"I think it was a defining moment of change in Bangladesh football when discipline came into the forefront where previously there was none."
In a culture where seniority is highly prized, he also continued with his mission to bring younger talent through to complement the veterans.
More than half of the squad he picked for last week's qualifying tournament were under 20 years old, players he said were previously not given an opportunity.
"Young players bring a competitive edge... it takes people out of their comfort zones. That's what I've done, I've shaken it up," he said.
Bangladesh started their Asian Cup qualifying campaign with a 7-0 win over Bahrain, but the real test for Butler's team arrived when they took on hosts Myanmar in a decisive battle for the group's single qualifying slot.
Ritu Porna Chakma, one of the rebel players, scored a brace to secure a 2-1 win over Myanmar, ranked 55th in the world. Bangladesh rounded out their group games with a 7-0 win over Turkmenistan on Saturday.
"Our brand of football really surprised a lot of people," Butler said. "You've got to have the belief, and I had the belief in my players."
Butler, however, was not sure whether he would continue in his role, with his contract ending soon.
"I don't even know if I'll be in charge going into the next tournament. I don't know what my future holds," he said.
"Whether I'm there or not there is not important. I've achieved what I set out to achieve... we got there, and it's history.
"I'd like to think I've helped change the women's football landscape in Bangladesh."
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)

First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
Liverpool retire No 20 jersey in honour of Diogo Jota: 'Unique tribute to uniquely wonderful person'
Liverpool will also pay tribute to late striker Diogo Jota as they return to action for the first time since the car crash against English Championship side Preston in a pre-season friendly on Sunday. read more Liverpool striker Diogo Jota was killed with his brother Andre Silva in a car crash this month. Image: Reuters Liverpool are to retire Diogo Jota's number 20 shirt in honour of the Portugal forward who was killed with his brother Andre Silva . 'After consultation with his wife, Rute, and family, the club can announce the squad number will be retired in honour and memory of Diogo across all levels, including LFC Women and Academy,' the club announced on Friday. 'I believe this is the first time in Liverpool Football Club's history that such an honour has been bestowed upon an individual,' the club's chief executive Michael Edwards noted. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Therefore, we can say this is a unique tribute to a uniquely wonderful person,' he added. Also Read | More from Football Jota will be honoured at Liverpool game Liverpool return to action for the first time since the July 3 tragedy at English Championship side Preston in a pre-season friendly on Sunday. A rendition of Liverpool's anthem 'You'll Never Walk Alone' will be played prior to the 1400 GMT kick-off and Preston will lay a wreath in front of the away supporters. A minute's silence will then be observed, digital tributes displayed on the stadium big screen and on pitchside advertising boards and players from both teams will wear black armbands. Also Read | Father of three Jota, who married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso 11 days before the accident, died alongside his brother after a Lamborghini they were travelling in came off the road and burst into flames in northern Spain. Liverpool manager Arne Slot and a number of first-team players, led by captain Virgil van Dijk, attended Jota's funeral last Saturday.


Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Sunil Gavaskar interferes in Gill vs umpire ball-change row, tears into ‘British Media': ‘Had it been in India…'
The spotlight feel on the Dukes ball on Day 2 of the ongoing third Test match between India and England, at Lord's. Day 2 saw an unusual subplot, where the visitors repeatedly tried to get the ball changed. Team skipper Shubman Gill was also visibly annoyed, and approached the umpires multiple times, and urged them to inspect the ball. The same process kept on following, the umpire's passed the ball through the ring gauge and sometimes went for a chance, and sometimes didn't. Sunil Gavaskar defended Shubman Gill and Co. in the ball-change controversy. The first session on Day 2 saw the event multiple times, which has also raised question marks over the shape issues of the ball. Some former England cricketers criticised the Indian team's continuous actions in wanting to change the ball. Meanwhile, the English media also criticised Gill and Co. Sunil Gavaskar defends Shubman Gill and India But India legend Sunil Gavaskar rushed to the Indian team's defence. Speaking on-air, he said, 'Even from here you can see that is not a 10-overs old ball, that is like a 20-overs old ball. If this would have happened in India... where if there were not enough balls similar to the ones replaced, the British Media would have certainly made a big deal out of it.' Speaking on Sky Sports, former England captain Nasser Hussain also pointed out that there is a 'serious issue' with the Dukes ball. 'There is a serious issue with the Dukes ball - both captains talked about it before the game and in this session it has been changed twice. But I think the ball is changed too often. I think we are getting a bit precious about cricket balls, getting addicted to having the perfect cricket ball for 80 overs,' he said. 'In the history of the game, a cricket ball gets old and it gets soft. Go back generations and opening batters see off the new ball and it gets easier. Bumrah was unplayable in the first hour and had a Dukes ball that was doing something. 'I looked up from my laptop at the back of the comms box and went 'they are changing the ball?!' Why would you change a ball that is doing something? When you have got something, stick with it! They didn't,' he added. Only 75 overs were bowled on Day 2, and 22 overs have been lost across two days. India lost two wickets in the final session, with Karun Nair once again failing to capitalise on a strong start.


Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
‘Fines don't work, these lads are quite rich': Vaughan slams slow over-rates in India-England Test
After two days of fighting cricket in the third India vs England Test (Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy) played at Lord's, the visitors find themselves 242 runs behind England's first innings total of 387 with seven wickets to spare. The over-rate, however, has been fairly poor from both teams, as former England captain and now a cricket pundit, Michael Vaughan said the slow over-rate has been a problem in Test cricket. His comments came after the game lost a combined total of 22 overs across the first two days. India bowled 83 overs on the first day, while the play on day 2 saw a combined total of 75 overs bowled by India and England as they fell 15 overs short of the 90-over target for a single day. 'I don't think fines work. I think these lads are quite rich,' said Vaughan to the BBC Sports with a laugh. 'I don't think the cash is going to affect them. Been a problem for Test match cricket for a while. I know it's hot. I know we've had a few injuries, but when we get to the fifth day, we have to bowl the 90 overs,' he added. 'I have no idea why on days one, two, three, and four, we can see the game played at a snail's pace. Surely the game moves on by saying on day one there's 90 overs. Guess what we're going to do? We're going to bowl 90 overs on day two exactly the same,' said Vaughan. The former English cricketer said it should be mandatory to complete the day's quota no matter what and by compelling the teams to bowl the 90 overs would guarantee an improved over rate. 'You watch on day five when the players, the umpires, know that 90 overs have to be bowled. They'll be running around. There won't be as many drinks breaks, there won't be as many delays because they know that 90 overs have to be bowled. So I'd make it vey, very simple. You have to bowl the 90 overs. I would guarantee that would improve the pace,' Vaughan added.