Having enjoyed a week-long vacation after emerging as group champions in the AFC U-16 Women's Championship Qualifiers, the girls of the under-16 women's team are all set to get back to business as their preparations for the 2017 finals begin today.

The girls are supposed to report to the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) today after starting the journey from their respective districts -- Mymensingh, Tangail, Rangpur, Satkhira, Kushtia and Rangamati -- and the BFF, who will bear the girls' travel expenses, has instructed them to travel with their guardians to avert any unwanted situations on their way to Dhaka.

Meanwhile, the game's governing body will sit in an emergency meeting today to finalise the future plan for the U-16 women's football team.

Though BFF president Kazi Salahuddin did not reveal details, he said he wished to go phase by phase with the U-16 women's footballers.

“There is a big task ahead when the girls will play in Thailand where the top Asian teams, who are also top teams in world football, will take part. Our girls struck eight or 10 goals against opponents in the qualifying round but now they will be targeted by those top Asian teams. So we have to protect and inspire them to do the best they can,” said Salahuddin, adding that he wants to see these girls win the SAFF Women's Championship in the next four years.

In a bid to protect the girls from conceding a glut of goals against the top Asian teams, Salahuddin said he wants to strengthen the coaching staff by hiring a physical fitness trainer, female physiotherapist and goalkeeping coach.