‘Should start preparing now for next Asian Cup qualifiers’

Bangladesh women’s football team returned home early Wednesday after their maiden campaign in the AFC Women's Asian Cup, where they faced China, North Korea and Uzbekistan before exiting in the group stage in Australia. Captain Afeida Khandaker, now back with the U-20 camp ahead of next month’s AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup in Thailand, spoke to The Daily Star’s Anisur Rahman about the experience and what lies ahead. The excerpts follow:

The Daily Star (DS): How significant was the Asian Cup experience, and where does the gap with top teams like China or North Korea lie?

Afeida Khandaker (AK): Hoisting the national flag and singing the national anthem on such a stage was a proud moment for us. We might not even have had the opportunity to play friendly matches against teams of that level, so facing them in the tournament was a great experience.

You can see the difference in their playing style. They groom players from a very young age, while many of us start much later. When you learn something early it stays with you.

DS: There were hopes of reaching the quarterfinals by beating Uzbekistan. Did the team believe it could happen?

AK: Of course. Everyone tried their best and even after conceding early we did not lose confidence. We kept attacking for goals, but luck was not with us.

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DS: What should be the immediate priorities if Bangladesh are to target bigger goals like the World Cup or Olympics?

AK: Good grounds should come first. If you are not used to quality pitches, it becomes difficult on fast surfaces abroad where the ball moves quickly. We also need a better dormitory for residential camps and proper food.

Preparation cannot start just six months before a tournament. First, we must qualify for the Asian Cup, then think about the World Cup or Olympics. We should start preparing now for the next Asian Cup qualifiers with a proper four-year plan.

DS: You will now lead Bangladesh in the upcoming U-20 Asian Cup. What are your expectations?

AK: We are in a tough group with China, Vietnam and Thailand. But around 10–12 senior players in the U-20 squad gained valuable experience from the Asian Cup in Australia, which should help us. We will try to perform well and fight to get out of the group stage.