Women’s league flawed but better than nothing, says Butler

Bangladesh women's football team coach Peter Butler has voiced reservations about the ongoing Women's Football League (WFL), conceding that while the competition lacks balance and intensity, it remains preferable to having no league at all.

Butler returned to Bangladesh on January 4 after a two-week break in England and has since been monitoring the league from a distance amid growing concerns over its competitiveness. Early rounds of the 11-team tournament have produced several one-sided results -- including scorelines of 23-0 and 12-0 -- fuelling fears that the league has failed to provide a level playing field.

Before leaving the country on December 21, Butler submitted a series of recommendations to the Bangladesh Football Federation aimed at improving balance and promoting player development. Those proposals, however, were only partially implemented.

"I put forward my recommendations but they were not implemented to the level I suggested, which was disappointing," Butler told The Daily Star on Monday.

Among his key suggestions was a structured pool system intended to curb talent concentration and encourage youth participation.

"I recommended a pool system that would have allowed only two senior national team players from Pool 1, a maximum of two foreign players, and required two Under-17 and two Under-20 players to be on the field at all times," he said. "It was rejected. Maybe certain parties felt they could not dominate, however I felt it was the best way of developing a level playing field."

The English coach had earlier been critical of national team players competing in the Bhutan league, which he described as being played at a "walking pace", with lopsided scorelines offering little competitive value. Similar concerns, he suggested, are now evident in the WFL.

PHOTO: FIROZ AHMED

Despite the shortcomings, Butler believes the league can still serve as a foundation if competitiveness improves over time.

"If we can get four teams competing on a level platform, then it's something to build on," he said. "It's a work in progress and a huge learning curve. I'll be more positive after five rounds if it's still even."

The WFL runs until February 3, with around 55 matches crammed into just over a month. While a lack of fixtures in Bhutan had previously affected players' fitness, Butler said the packed domestic schedule raises a different concern – burnout, especially so close to Bangladesh's historic Asian Cup campaign starting on March 1 in Australia.

"My biggest concern is burnout, but it's better to be playing games than not," he said. "The games I've watched have been low tempo. Winning games 12-0 or 23-0 is not conducive to developing a strong league."

Butler's immediate focus will now shift to the Under-19 team, whom he will take to the SAFF Under-19 Women's Championship later this month. He expects to conclude his Under-19 duties by February 7, after which discussions are underway to organise a national team camp ahead for the Asian Cup.