Plumptre sees big potential in Bangladesh women

British-Nigerian defender Ashleigh Plumptre believes Bangladesh’s women footballers can make significant strides and eventually reach the international stage if the country continues to invest in women’s football and its players.

BFF President Tabith Awal welcomed the 26-year-old defender with a floral bouquet and presented her with a Bangladesh national team jersey on Sunday.

Plumptre also met national team players including Afeida Khandakar, Maria Manda, Shamsunnahar Sr and Monika Chakma.

“I’m just really grateful to be here. This is my first time visiting Bangladesh,” she told reporters.

Plumptre, who plays in the Saudi Women’s Premier League, arrived in Dhaka on Sunday as part of a joint initiative involving her foundation and a local corporate foundation.

She visited the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) House before travelling to Sylhet on Monday for scheduled foundation activities.

The former Leicester City defender said her visit was driven by a desire to connect with the players and understand their culture, while using football as a platform to empower women.

“I believe in the power of sport, and I believe in the power of sport and connection,” she said.

Plumptre, who represented Nigeria at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, said her foundation work has shown her how powerful face-to-face engagement can be.

The defender organised a football camp for 250 girls in Lagos earlier this year and said her biggest takeaway came from conversations away from the pitch.

She believes Bangladesh can follow a path similar to Saudi Arabia, where increased investment and exposure to international players have accelerated the development of women’s football.

“We have to be realistic that it takes time,” she highlighted. “But you can’t put a cap on it. If you invest in women’s football and support the women themselves, they can really do unexpected things.”