SPORTS REPORTER

Bangladesh women’s football team coach Peter Butler is apparently adamant about continuing his training camp with junior players even as Bangladesh Football Federation continues its effort to bring back the boycotting senior players to training.

Butler conducted his first training session yesterday with 13 footballers – mostly juniors – at the Bangabandhu National Stadium as 18 senior players declined to join the training.

Afeida Khandaker, Shaheda Akhtar Ripa, Kohati Kisku, Munki Khatun, Sapna Rani, Surma Akter, Irene Parvin, Akalima Khatun, Surovi Akanda Prity, Zainab Begum, Arpita Bishwas, Halima Khatun and Yearzan Begum were the ones who attended the training session, which involved aerobics. Later in the day, the same players participated in a gym session at the BFF House, with assistant coaches Mahbubur Rahman Litu and Mahmuda Akter Ananaya overseeing the session.

Butler, who returned to Bangladesh last week following a two-year extension of contract, told reporters in the evening that he was fine with continuing with the junior players.

“I don’t have any idea about this. I have no interest (about rebel players) either. I am doing my job professionally. I will continue the training with those who attended today,” said Butler, who will conduct another training session at the BNS this morning.

The BFF has called up under-20 players from Bangladesh Army and BKSP to join the camp today. Butler, whose rift with the senior players was first brought into public domain by the seniors during last year’s triumphant SAFF Women’s Championship campaign, said he was looking forward to working with the juniors.

“The under-20 players are joining the camp. I’m hopeful they will serve the country in the future,” added Butler.

However, the BFF high-ups were continuing their effort to bring the senior players back to training after having formed a seven-member special committee headed by senior vice-president Imrul Hasan, which sat for a meeting last night.

Mahfuza Akter Kiron, the chairman of BFF’s women’s wing, told reporters that they are working to convince the senior players to join training.

“We are working to bring back the girls. We definitely want the girls to be in camp, training and playing. This is what we want. Beyond that, there is nothing we want. We are working on it continuously and trying to convince them,” Kiron said. The BFF executive member, who previously held a stricter attitude towards this issue, said she spoke to the players and remains hopeful of a resolution.

“They are adults, aren’t they? They have the authority to take any decision. We can’t say anything in regard to that. We brought them here as children. I tried to convince them. I told them, don’t do this. It is not good for anyone; not good for the country,” Kiron added.