The members of the national U-16 women's football team were accorded a reception yesterday by Walton, one of the leading electrical and electronics companies of the country, which gave away monetary rewards to the girls as well as the coaching staff.

Before the start of the AFC U-16 Women's Championship Qualifiers, the event's sponsors Walton had promised to give the team Tk 5 lakh if they could qualify for the final round. The promise was fulfilled yesterday as Tk 20,000 was handed over each to each of 23 members as well as three coaches at a simple reception at the BFF headquarters.

“I want to thank Walton for felicitating us in such a way,” under-16 team's captain Krishna Rani Sarkar said. “Even though we never thought about monetary rewards when we took to the field, I think such recognition and incentive will inspire us to do better in future.”

Walton's games and sports director FM Iqbal Bin Anwar expressed his happiness to have been associated with women's football and promised to come forward in a bigger way.

“We have been proposed to be part of different women's football activities and we have agreed to sponsor upcoming national women's football championship and inaugural women's beach football, co-sponsor JFA U-14 women's championship and provide as much financial assistance to women's football activities as we can,” said Anwar.

The programme was attended, among others, by BFF vice president Mohiuddin Ahmed Mohi, members Mahfuza Akter Kiron, Fazlur Rahman and Amit Khan and general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag.