Bangladesh women's football team will depart for Australia early hour of Friday to participate in the final stage of AFC Women's Asian Cup scheduled to be held in Australia from March 1-21.
After a transit in Thailand, the team is scheduled to reach in Sydney on the same day evening.
Bangladesh, for the first time going to participate in the final stage of the AFC Asian Cup, grouped with strong China, North Korea and Uzbekistan.
Bangladesh eve football team will start their campaign taking on nine times champions China on March 3 Western Sydney Stadium, Sydney and will play their second match against three times champions North Korea on March 6 at the same venue before facing Uzbekistan on March 9 at Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth.
Addressing at a pre departure press conference held at the conference room of Bangladesh Football Federation today (Thursday) Bangladesh skipper Afeida Khandakar was found quite confident regarding her team's positive performance in the tournament.
"As you know we have finished our women's league few days ago even then we practiced to the coach whenever we had time ...because our opponents are quite strong… China North Korea and Uzbekistan are very strong teams… we are working as per the instruction of our coach ….. inshallah we'll do well in the tournament," Afeida said to the pressmen.
"As we are going to play for the time in the Asian Cup so we must want to do well and give our best in the field, she added.
She also sought blessing to all so that they can play their best football in Australia.
The Bangladesh captain, replying to a question, said they are not taking any pressure in the Asian Cup rather they would try to play as usual natural game in Australia.
Afeida said her girls have been greatly benefited in the just concluded women's league before the Asian Cup tourney because the girls have done well and scored many goals which boosted their self confidence level before the Asian Cup.
Replying to another question, Afeida said they would try to do something good against Uzbekistan, the comparatively easier side than China and North Korea in the tournament.
BFF women's football wing chairman Mahfuza Akter Kiron, who was present in the press conference, also expressed her high optimism with girls from the Asian Cup.
"As you know China is the nine times champions and North Korea is three times champions in the Asian Cup while Uzbekistan is going to participate in the Asian Cup for the sixth times. We are in very tough group … in the meantime I sat with the girls and talked to them … I believe the girls will give their maximum effort there," Kiron said.
Commenting about the team's overall preparation ahead of the Asian Cup, Kiron said the team had training camp in Chattogram EPZ and two matches against Azerbaijan and Malaysia. We had also prepared a training camp for the team in Japan in November last year, but since it was in minus temperature there, so we couldn't accept the opportunity.
Team coach Peter James Butler, BFF executive member and pioneer league committee's chairman Tipu Sultan, Ifekhar Uddin Sunny, senior brand manager, Infinix Bangladesh and women's team sponsor Dhaka Bank PLC head of communication and brand division Syed Golam Dostogir were present also present in the press conference. �"BSS
