Peter Butler has termed Ritu Porna Chakma as one of the best wingers in South Asia, even Asia, but the Bangladesh forward is yet to truly showcase her quality in the ongoing SAFF Women's Championship.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Afeida reflects on her return to the side, the captaincy change, the team’s dip in form, coping with personal tragedy in the camp, and the challenge of facing India in Saturday’s final.

Sometimes, football is not about how well you play but about finding a way to get the job done.

Captain Maria Manda and goal-scorer Ritu Porna Chakma dedicated Bangladesh’s hard-fought 2-1 victory over Nepal to the nation and the late mother of teammate Sheuli Azim after securing a place in a third consecutive SAFF Women’s Championship final on Tuesday.

Bangladesh will take confidence from their recent record against Nepal, having defeated the six-time runners-up in the finals of the previous two editions.

The training session, scheduled to begin at 7:00am at the Bambolim Athletics Stadium, around 25 kilometres from the team's hotel, was called off after Sheuli's mother passed away early this morning.

Defending champions Bangladesh got off to a winning start against Maldives, but the women in red and green suffered a major setback with a 3-0 defeat to five-time champions India.

The omission is another setback for Afeida, who was stripped of the captaincy ahead of the tournament.

The match will kick off at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa at 8:00pm Bangladesh time.

Bangladesh have so far played eight SAFF Women’s Championship matches against India, winning two, drawing one and losing five.

Speaking after a training session in Goa, Butler dismissed concerns over Ritu’s quiet performance against the Maldives, insisting that occasional off-days are part of a young player’s development.

Switched to the number nine position instead of the wing against Maldives on Thursday, she found the net in just 11 seconds.

The English coach was also critical of the approach Maldives showed throughout the match.

Bangladesh women's football team head coach Peter Butler has fiercely defended his tactical approach, declaring he would rather quit than change his attack-minded philosophy, following his side’s 4-2 win over the Maldives in their opening match of the SAFF Women’s Championship in Goa yesterday.

Defending champions Bangladesh made a winning start to their SAFF Women’s Championship campaign, beating Maldives 4-2 in their opening match of the tournament at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa, India, today.

Adding a touch of warmth to an otherwise empty stadium atmosphere, a small group of Russian supporters turned up at the stadium carrying a white banner that simply read ‘Bangladesh’, with the two ‘A’s painted as love signs.

Head coach Peter Butler brought three changes to the playing eleven that last featured in the Women’s Asian Cup qualifier against Uzbekistan in Australia last March.

Mehedi said delays in obtaining an Indian visa prevented him from joining the squad earlier.

Bangladesh women’s team head coach Peter Butler confirmed on Wednesday that goalkeeper Mili Akter has recovered from injury and will start against Maldives in their opening match of the SAFF Women’s Championship on Thursday.

Bangladesh are targeting a historic third consecutive SAFF Women’s Championship title, with the squad united around the ambition despite rising competition in the region.