I want to be top scorer: Sabina Khatun

 

The golden period of Bangladesh Football now seems a tale to new generations. The new generations of us keep themselves busy in cricket on the other hand the football gallery remains vacant for lack of spectators.
 
Recently, the football shows us some hopes after a long pause. Football lovers started to return back to stadium again. Bangabandhu Gold Cup International Football Tournament proved again that spectators love to watch football in field.
 
Kazi Salahuddin was a member of the Swadhin Bangla Football Dal, the team which played across India to raise funds during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. Salahuddin is the first player from the country to play abroad in the professional league in Hong Kong in 1979.
 
Later, many players including Monem Munna, Sheikh Mohammed Aslam, Mohammad Kaisar Hamid, Rumman-bin-Wali Sabbir, Nurul Haque Manik, Mahbub Hossain Roxy kept footprint in football in eighties.  
 
In latest times, Bangladesh football team skipper Mamunul Islam Mamun covenanted with Indian Super League (ISL). All the footballers in Bangladesh who played in foreign leagues were male.
 
But, this is the first time in the history of Bangladesh football, a Bangladeshi woman is going to play for foreign club. Sabina Khatun, the female footballer, will play in `Club Maldives Women Football Fiesta-2015`. The tournament will start on March 14 and continue till April 17.
 
Risingbd.com Senior Sub Editor Aminul Islam talked with the pioneer female footballer Sabina, who already left Bangladesh for Maldives on Wednesday. The interview is published bellow for the readers of risingbd.com.
 
risingbd.com: How did you start your football career?
 
Sabina: I’m fond of football from my childhood. I joined in school level football match. Satkhira district football coach Akbar sir helped me in this connection so much. He gave me a scope to join in Citycell National Championship.
 
risingbd.com: How did you get the scope to play in Maldives?
 
Sabina: I scored two goals in last South Asian Games (SAF) Games. After seeing the performance in the match they (Maldives club) communicated with me.  Later, I covenanted with the club through Bangladesh Football Federation (BAF).  
 
risingbd.com: You got a scope to play in foreign tournament. What’s your opinion?
 
Sabina: It’s really a great honour to me. I have tried to play my best always and had a target that I will play in national team and foreign tournament. And at last the dream comes true.
 
risingbd.com: What’s your target in Maldives?
 
Sabina:  As far I know ‘Maldives Police Club’ is runners up in the tournament and I will play in the team. I want to be the highest goal scorer in the tournament.
 
risingbd.com: Have you face any obstacles during your football career?
 
Sabina: No. no one created any obstacle during foot playing, even most of all encouraged me.
 
risingbd.com: Do you know Wasfia Nazreen?
 
Sabina: Yes. I know her. She is the first female Bangladeshi mountaineer who conquered the Mount Everest.
 
risingbd.com: Wasfia, the first Bangladeshi woman embarked on Everest conquest. You are first female footballer who is going to play foreign tournament. What’s your opinion?
 
Sabina: I am feeling great because, I got the scope as first as female footballer. I hope many female like me will get the scope in future.
 
risingbd.com: What will be role of you in Maldives for Bangladeshi women footballer?
 
Sabina: I want to play good football there. I want to show that Bangladeshi women advanced in football playing. I will try to create a positive attitude so that Bangladeshi female footballers get scope to play football in future.
 
risingbd.com: What’s your dream about Bangladesh?
 
Sabina: I want to see that Bangladesh will go in a better place. I hope Bangladesh football will be developed.
 
risingbd.com: Thank you so much for talking with risingbd.com
 
Sabina: You are welcome.
 
risingbd/DHAKA/Mar 08, 2015/Aminul/Nasim/Augustin Sujan