Dhaka, January 9: The U16 girls’ team has secured a place in the final round of AFC U16 Women’s Championship for the first time, beating Iran, Singapore, Kyrgyzstan, Chinese Taipei and United Arab Emirates in their group.

These girls were also the mainstay of the SAFF Women’s Championship squad that went to the finals for the first time, only to lose 1-3 to reigning champions India.

These are only two of the many U16 success stories and the Bangladesh Football Federation wants many more.

The team will face Asian champions in 2017 at the U16 AFC Women’s Championship in Thailand this September. The team management, naturally, has high hopes with the team since the girls are going into the next round undefeated.

Coach Golam Rabbani Choton said he thought a permanent residency programme till the tournament in Thailand later this year, would go a long way in lifting their skills. “We only used to have them for three months tops. But this time it will be different.”

Firing away quick tips at two of his star forwards, Shopna and Sanjida, Choton says one of the great aspects of this residency is that the youngsters get to practise alongside the veterans. “They can learn a lot from the likes of captain Sabina Khatun and her deputy Mainu Marma.”

Sabina and Mainu, the two veterans of the Bangladesh women’s team have been on the side for almost 8 years now. The coach said both the senior players were very supportive of their younger compatriots and sincerely see to it that the new crop of youngsters learn as much as they can.

Choton said discipline was a key to the rigorous training that the girls are going through. He is very strict about getting the girls at the field within 8 in the morning. “No exceptions, no excuses.”

The girls must check all the boxes when it comes to training, from basic fitness to specialist set pieces needed for the game.

The coach said with all the facilities from the Bangladesh Football Federation, including kits, accommodation and diet, “all the girls have to do is try hard and play as best as they can.”

Although currently housed on the third floor of the BFF building temporarily, the federation is in process of building permanent dormitories for such residency programmes.

The gruelling practice appears to have paid off thus far. The coach thinks the team is very enthusiastic and very confident about their abilities. “Players like Krishna, Sanjida, Marzia, Masura, Shopna and other youngsters will be able to handle offence and defence superbly well with the right training.”

So what will be the secret of their success? Choton only says, “Hard work and a lot of football.”