Bangladesh women's football team's forward Sirat Jahan Shopna said that now their main focus is on the semifinal match against Bhutan.
Bangladesh who earlier emerged as group A champions after beating India by 3-0 goals in the group phase match, will now play the first semifinal against group B runners-up Bhutan scheduled to be held on Friday (Sept 16) at Dasharath Rangasala Stadium.
"Actually now our main target is semifinal....we have always said that we want to play the final of the tournament .... there is no scope to underestimate our opponents Bhutan who have reached this stage proving their worth .... in fact we want to leave the field with victory against Bhutan, keeping the consistency of the games we played in the tournament," Shopna said to the pressmen after the team's practice session was held today (Wednesday) at Army Headquarters ground.
"It's a big achievement to win against India ... they (India) are the strong team and five times champions of the SAFF Championship ... so the joy of winning against India cannot be expressed in a word," Shopna said to a questioner when she was asked how she feels after her team registered a historic victory against India.
Defender Sheuli Azim also echoed the same statement by saying that: "We're now totally focusing on the semifinal match against Bhutan ......... the semifinal match is very important for us to go to the final because Bhutan is a strong team and they have reached at this stage by proving their worth ... so there is no reason to underestimate Bhutan team ..... we'll take to the field for the victory."
Team's manager Amirul Islam Babu said the girls have already celebrated victory after beating India and now their main focus is on the semifinal.
He said they are not taking Bhutan lightly because Bhutan is a strong team. He also urged his girls to carry the same performance in the semifinal they showed against India match.
