History made as former women footballers feature in Victory Day exhibition

Victory Day turned into a deeply emotional homecoming for former women footballers as the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) organized a special exhibition match at the Artificial Turf ground beside the BFF House in Motijheel, Dhaka. For the first time in the history of Victory Day celebrations, former women’s national team players stepped onto the field—not just to play, but to reclaim memories, pride and recognition long overdue.

The women’s exhibition match, played for 30 minutes, ended with the Green Team securing a heartfelt 1–0 victory. Sraboni scored the only goal of the match, joining the former stars on a night filled with nostalgia. The pitch came alive with familiar faces—former national team captain Khursheda Khatun Khushi, Mahmuda Khatun Aditi, Umme Hafsa Rumki, Surabhi Akter, Reshma Khatun, and many others—each touch of the ball echoing stories of sacrifice and passion that shaped women’s football in Bangladesh.

For the players, the result mattered little. What truly mattered was being back together, wearing boots once more, reliving moments that defined their lives. After the match, the former women footballers spoke of joy, gratitude and a shared hope—that such recognition would not be a one-time gesture, but the beginning of a lasting tradition.

The men’s exhibition match followed, played for 45 minutes, with the Green Team defeating the Red Team 4–2. The contest was rich in quality and intensity, reminding everyone that footballing instincts never fade. A stunning left-footed curling free-kick by Wali Faisal drew loud applause, while former national captain Zahid Hasan Ameli, donning his iconic number 10 jersey, mesmerized the crowd with flashes of brilliance from his playing days.

Yet the true beauty of the evening lay beyond goals and scorelines. Former players arrived with their families, sharing smiles, laughter and memories with old teammates. The stands saw present-day women’s national team stars—Rupna Chakma, Sapna Rani, Tahura Khatun, Umela Marma—watching closely, connecting past struggles with present success.

Speaking after the match, 55-year-old former footballer Arman Mia said, “Playing in such events feels great because it gives us the chance to meet everyone after a long time. It brings back many old memories. Earlier, we used to meet regularly, but now it might happen only once a year. Arrangements like this are rare and very special.” 

Former women footballer Mahmuda Khatun Aditi echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the importance of continuity. “People come from faraway places just to relive those memories—some from Narayanganj, some from Uttara, some from Tongi. Many former players still practice regularly. Meeting everyone again after so many years feels wonderful. This kind of initiative should definitely be continued.”