‘Winning is the best way’ as captain Sabina leads unbeaten Bangladesh in futsal triumph

Futsal success has offered Sabina Khatun both a new stage and a timely reminder of her enduring value to Bangladesh football.

The 32-year-old captain led Bangladesh to the title in the inaugural SAFF Women’s Futsal Championship 2026, finishing as the tournament’s only unbeaten team with five wins and a draw in the seven-team competition held in Bangkok, Thailand. 

The triumph added another chapter to Sabina’s leadership legacy, following back-to-back SAFF Women’s Championship titles in 2022 and 2024 under her captaincy.

“Winning always brings happiness and it is the best way to earn laurels for the nation, especially after battling hard against opponents,” Sabina said in a voice message to The Daily Star from Thailand on Sunday.

Bangladesh’s dominance in the new format was shaped decisively by their captain. Sabina not only adapted seamlessly to futsal but also led from the front, finishing as the competition’s top scorer with 14 goals -- seven more than the joint second-highest scorers, her teammate Krishna Rani Sarkar and India’s Khusbu Saroj, underlining how her level was a cut above the rest.

“My role has always been to score goals, whether in football or futsal,” she said. 

“It feels good to score in both versions, but scoring is never easy. It takes skill and constant effort.”

Sabina joined the futsal squad with limited preparation time and yet believed the team could still make an impact if experience was used wisely.

“If my inclusion helps the team, then there was no reason not to join,” said the Satkhira native. “We didn’t have much time to prepare, but I felt that bringing in a few experienced players and giving them one or two months of training could produce something positive.”

Despite her success in futsal, Sabina remains unwilling to revisit the controversy surrounding her apparent exclusion from the national women’s football team following a rift with English coach Peter Butler.

“There are many questions about the coach, but I don’t want to comment,” she said. 

“It’s an old issue and I don’t want to raise it again, especially when the women’s team has an important tournament coming up in March. Everyone should wish them the best.”

She also called on continued public support for the women’s game. “The people of the country have always stood by women’s football, and I hope they will continue to do so in the coming days.” 

Sabina, however, is prepared to accept scrutiny that comes with her profile.

“Criticism is part of being a professional. Players are praised during good times and criticised during bad times. Accepting both should be a professional’s character.”

On and off the court, Sabina believes her responsibility remains unchanged.

“I try to be the same person everywhere -- friendly with others and always trying to inspire the team.”