Bashundhara windfall for women’s football

The women's football structure received another welcome boost as Bashundhara Group signed a three-year sponsorship agreement with the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) to further the development of women's football yesterday.

"Bashundahra are our elite sponsors. We will use one-fourth of the sponsorship money for the women's football league and the rest will be spent to develop women's football teams," stated BFF women's committee chairman Mahfuza Akter Kiran, who signed the contract with Bashundhara Group managing director Sayem Sobhan Anvir

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The FIFA executive member added: "Bashundhara Group is a real sports loving group. If they weren't, we could not have signed this deal. We hope women's will go further."

Although neither party disclosed details of the contract, it was learnt that Bashundhara -- who also have a team in the Bangladesh Women's Football League aside from three clubs in the top-tier Bangladesh Premier League -- would provide one crore taka per year.

Dhaka Bank have been sponsoring the national women's teams for a quite a while, but with their contract set to expire in 2024, Kiran believes the new agreement will not clash with their deal with Dhaka Bank.

"We did not come here for exposure. We have become associated with them with a view to improve the standard of women's football. Women's football has had comparatively more successes than the men's team, so if we can support the women in every way, I believe they can bring more glory," Bashundhara Kings deputy managing director and BFF vice president Imrul Hasan said.