SAFF Women’s Club C'ship set for historic kick-off today

By Pramod Joshi,Kathmandu, Dec. 5: History will be made when the first edition of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Women’s Club Championship kicks off at the Dasarath Stadium in Kathmandu on Thursday, 5 December.

It has long been SAFF’s dream to host a club-level championship among its member nations, and that dream is finally becoming reality with the launch of this regional women’s competition. SAFF is also planning to organise a men’s club championship in a home-and-away format next year.

With this tournament, SAFF becomes the first regional body in Asia to stage a women’s club competition.

Five league champions from across South Asia are vying for regional glory: Nasrin Sports Academy (Bangladesh), Transport United Ladies FC (Bhutan), East Bengal FC (India), APF Football Club (Nepal) and Karachi City Football Club (Pakistan).

All teams have arrived in Kathmandu to compete in a league-cum-knockout format. The winners will take home a cash prize of USD 10,000, while the runners-up will receive USD 5,000. The remaining teams will each be awarded USD 2,000.

The opening match between Karachi City FC and Transport United FC will be played on Thursday at 2:00 PM NST. Nepal’s APF will begin their campaign later in the day against Nasrin Sports Academy at 6:00 PM.

APF will be hoping to capitalise on home advantage and make history by lifting the maiden trophy. At a pre-match press conference at the All Nepal Football Association headquarters in Satdobato, APF coach Jibesh Pandey said his squad is determined to keep the trophy at home.

“We have prepared well as most of our players are in the national team. They have just returned from Indonesia after playing international friendlies,” Pandey said.  “Though we had little time to practise together, we are ready. We have not played as a team since July, which might affect our rhythm, but my players are fit both mentally and physically.”

Under SAFF regulations, clubs may sign up to five foreign players. However, APF, the Nepali Women’s National League champions, are competing without any foreign recruits.

Pandey explained that the club received its full squad only 24 hours before the tournament. The team has added striker Meena Deuba and defenders Puja Rana and Bimala BK from Nepal Police Club.

Pandey has named a 23-member squad led by captain Anita Basnet. Basnet said her teammates are excited to compete in the first-ever SAFF Women’s Club Championship.

“We did not get enough time to practise together, so the first match may be difficult. But I am hopeful we will find our rhythm as the tournament progresses,” she said. “We want to end the trophy drought of the national women’s team by winning this title.”

Other teams are equally determined to shine. Nasrin Sports Academy from Bangladesh aim to follow in the footsteps of their national side, who won back-to-back SAFF titles at the Dasarath Stadium. 

Coach Monir Hossain said his team will play with confidence, noting that the squad includes four national players alongside youth prospects. Captain Sanjida Akter, the only senior player in the squad, added, “We will not take pressure in front of enthusiastic Nepali fans. Our focus is on good performance and giving tough competition.”

Karachi City FC and Transport United also expressed their ambitions. Karachi coach Adeel Rizki said his team is in good spirits, while captain Maria Khan emphasised that they are not just representing the club but the country as well.

Transport United coach Yeshi Wangchuk said his side had a couple of weeks to prepare and are ready for the challenge. Their captain Sunita Rai noted that 90 percent of the squad are national team members, adding: “We focused on consistent performance during our preparation.”

APF Squad: (Gks) Anjana Rana Magar, Sabitri Kishan, Lila Joshi, (Dfds) Bimala Bk, Hira Kumari Bhujel, Puja Rana, Man Maya Damai, Nisha Thokar, Pratikshya Chaudhary, Gita Rana, Sajani Thokar, (Mfds) Anita Basnet, Saru Limbu, Sabita Rana Magar, Renuka Nagarkote, Saraswati Hamal, Hima Rawat, Roshani Bohora Chhettri and (Fwds) Rashmi Kumari Ghising, Meena Duba, Anita KC, Kusum Khatiwada and Shova Kumari Pradhan.