Slow and steady, Suehlamong shaping stars in the hills

In the hills of Rangamati, the quiet hum of football drills tells a bigger story.

Passing the winding slopes into Kawkhali, the real landmark here could very well be the upazila field, where dozens of young girls train under the guidance of Suehlamong Marma. It is here that two of Bangladesh's brightest names in women's football -- Ritu Porna Chakma and Monika Chakma -- honed their craft.

Women's football in the Chattogram Hill Tracts has not been built overnight. It has been shaped by the persistence of people like Suehlamong, who believed in the game's potential to change lives.

Since 2005, Suehlamong has worked as a coach with the Bangladesh Ansar Defence Force. But his long-held ambition was personal: to build a platform for girls from Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari.

In 2018, he set up the Suehlamong Football Academy, starting with 14 female players and a simple dream: to see girls from the Chattogram Hill Tracts reach the national team. However, running the academy meant sacrifice: he and his wife covered food, accommodation and education from their salaries, even borrowing from associations to keep the doors open. "Initially it was very challenging," he said.

Today, the academy trains more than 50 girls. The monthly cost, between Tk 80,000 and 90,000, remains a constant hurdle. Still, his persistence has drawn support -- from the district administration, the upazila office, and local organisations who now provide food aid or sports equipment.

The impact has been tangible. Since its inception, eight female players from the academy have represented Bangladesh in various age groups, four secured army jobs, and seven earned admission into BKSP.

Suehlamong himself coached future stars such as Ritu Porna, Monika, Rupna Chakma, the Mogini sisters -- Anai and Anuching -- between 2011 and 2016, when they were rising talents.

L:R: Rupna Chakma, Monika Chakma, Suehlamong Marma, Ritu Porna Chakma. Photo: Facebook via Suehlamong Football Academy

The academy has also become a launchpad for other ambitions. Masinu Marma, once a player here, is now training as both assistant coach and referee. "My dream is to become a referee like Joya Chakma," she said, citing Bangladesh's first female FIFA referee, herself a daughter of Rangamati.

Others, like Miu Pru Marma from Bandarban, have branched into dual careers. While training in football, she also competes in cycling with the Ansar team, receiving a monthly allowance.

Local officials see the academy as more than just a football project. "This academy is also playing a role beyond Kawkhali or Rangamati. From here, eight players are in the national team across age groups, and others have joined Ansar and the Army." said Kazi Atiqur Rahman, Upazila Executive Officer.

"The district administration provides food assistance while the upazila administration tries to meet the players' need for equipment."

On the surface, the Kawkhali field is nothing out of the ordinary, but as the girls run drills under the Rangamati sun, the story of women's football in Bangladesh continues to be written -- one slow, steady success at a time.