Butler flies home, women’s camp takes a split

After three weeks of training as a united front, the Bangladesh women's football team's preparations for Singapore have suddenly fractured in Chattogram, overshadowed by a medical emergency for head coach Peter Butler and an unexplained divide on the practice pitch.

The team travelled by road to the Korean Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) on Friday in two buses. While 42 players made the journey together, star player Ritu Porna Chakma and one other teammate arrived separately, rounding out a 44-player roster. This intensive camp was meant to be a final proving ground to trim the group down to a 23-woman squad for the matches on 1 and 5 December.

Instead, they arrived without their British boss. Butler was forced to fly back to England late on Thursday night after doctors suspected a tumour. Sources within the Bangladesh Football Federation said Butler initially wanted to stay and see the camp through, but flew home for urgent treatment at the firm urging of his wife. With no date set for his return, assistant coach Abul Hossain has been handed the reins.

But the moment Butler left and the team shifted from Dhaka to Chattogram, a sudden wall went up between the players. After more than three weeks of side-by-side in Dhaka, the local coaching staff scrapped the combined sessions. Now, the senior players take the field for an early shift from 6:00am to 7:30am. Only when they are finished do the 17 under-17 players step out for their own isolated session, sparking talks of unfair discrimination.

The strict junior-senior split has left observers scratching their heads over how the temporary coaching staff can fairly select a mixed squad if the young hopefuls never get to test themselves against the veterans.

Even those inside the camp are lost for answers regarding the sudden change in routine. When asked why the squad was split up, a camp official, speaking on condition of anonymity, pointed the finger directly at the temporary setup.

"Since the head coach is away, the local coaches are handling all the responsibilities," the official said. "I do not know why the practice is happening in two shifts. Those who are running the sessions can explain it better. I do not have an answer for this."