Women's football team in intensive training at KEPZ in Anwara ahead of Singapore friendlies

The members of the Bangladesh national women's football team are spending busy days in intensive training at the Korean EPZ (KEPZ) ground in Anwara, Chattogram, aiming to win their international friendlies in Singapore. The team's preparation is under way on the banks of the Karnaphuli River under interim French coach Eric Meyer.

Maria Manda, Rituparna, Afida and other national team footballers were seen training at the KEPZ Textile Institute playground. Alongside Eric Meyer, goalkeeping coach Masud Ahmed Ujjal was also busy working with the players.

Training covers ball control, passing, attacking and defensive tactics in depth. The footballers' days run from morning to evening with practice, swimming and gym work. The roughly 44-member squad's goal is to produce their best in Singapore and end the year with a win.

The Bangladesh national women's football team will play two international friendlies in Singapore from 1 to 5 December. A residential training camp began at KEPZ on 31 October as preparation for that tour.

With the national football team's training under way on Dhaka's grounds, the Korean EPZ authorities, at the request of the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF), allocated their newly built Textile Institute playground, housing and the whole campus with the necessary facilities for one month. The residential camp will run until 20 November. It is the national women's team's fourth training camp outside Dhaka.

The team suffered a major blow during the camp. English coach Peter Butler has fallen ill. On 8 November the players learned that he has cancer. The news left the squad members somewhat broken mentally, and anxiety appeared among many players.

Peter Butler did not come to Chattogram and instead returned directly to his home country, England. There, after treatment and tests, his cancer was confirmed. Bangladesh's women's team achieved several successes under his coaching.

In Butler's absence, French coach Eric Meyer has come to Bangladesh on a one-month contract. He said he will run the team following Peter Butler's playing philosophy and tactics, and has no plan to make any major change to the team's style of play. He said he has found a positive mentality, enthusiasm and a strong desire to do well among the players.

Describing his first day of training, Eric Meyer said that from his long experience working with national teams in Africa, he has seen great potential and quality in the Bangladeshi players' game. In the very first session, the players' attention, discipline and following of instructions impressed him. About 40 players in the current camp have been divided into three groups for matches and training. The team is being prepared by analysing videos of Singapore's recent matches to review the opponent's strengths and weaknesses.

KEPZ Managing Director retired Colonel Md Shahjahan said this is the fourth time the national women's football team is training at the KEPZ Textile Institute ground. After the BFF expressed interest and contacted them, they opened the ground and the necessary facilities for the national women's team's training. He said KEPZ is working not only on the development of sports but also on conserving the environment and biodiversity.