Skipper Sabina Khatun, who led the Bangladesh national women’s football team to its maiden SAFF Women’s Championship triumph, was given a hero’s welcome on return to her hometown of Satkhira on Friday, reports news agency UNB.
Sabina was received by the Satkhira district sport association office-bearers around 10.30am at the Circuit House, where hundreds of people were already waiting to get a glimpse of her.
Thousands of people flooded the streets as she later toured Satkhira city in an open mini-truck decorated with flags, banners and flowers. After that, she went to her house in the city’s Sabujbagh area.
Overjoyed by the grand reception, Sabina told reporters that she was overwhelmed.
“I have been toiling in the field for the past 12 years and now I feel that I have achieved my goal. After winning the hearts of 160 million people of Bangladesh, I don’t want to stop,” she said.
Sabina said that she has urged the district authorities to build a stadium in Satkhira, where all modern amenities will be available for women athletes.
Mir Tajul Islam Ripon, joint general secretary of the Satkhira district sports association, said that preparations are now underway to give another grand reception to Sabina and Masura Parvin, another player of the winning team who hails from Satkhira.