SAFF U19 Women’s Championship 2021 Analysis
The SAFF U-19 Women’s Championship is back! Founded in 2018, this year’s edition is only the second of the competition to date. A total of five teams are taking part this time, including India. Last edition’s champions Bangladesh are the hosts this time.
The SAFF U-19 Women’s Championship 2021 kicked off on December 11, 2021. Each team will face every other team in the group stage and the best two teams will advance to the final, which is set to take place on December 22, 2021. The competition was originally supposed to be held between July 13 and July 22 this year, but the COVID-19 pandemic and its related issues resulted in a five-month delay.
Hosts and Venues
On October 14, 2021, the SAFF members board meeting took place in Male, Maldives. Following the meeting, Bangladesh was announced to be the host of the tournament.
All the games at the SAFF U-19 Women’s Championship 2021 are being held at the BSSS Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh.
Participating Teams
All the four teams that took part in the SAFF U-19 Women’s Championship 2018 are back for this edition as well. There is also a new addition in Sri Lanka.
The following are the teams participating in the SAFF U-19 Women’s Championship 2021, along with their respective final positions on the standings in 2018:
- Bangladesh (Champions)
- Nepal (Runners-up)
- India (Third place)
- Bhutan (Fourth place)
- Sri Lanka (did not take part)
Fixtures and Results
Group Stage
| Teams | Date | Results | Winner |
| Bhutan vs Sri Lanka | Saturday, December 1 | 5 – 0 | Bhutan |
| Bangladesh vs Nepal | Saturday, December 11: | 0 – 0 | Draw |
| Bangladesh vs Bhutan | Monday, December 13 | 6 – 0 | Bangladesh |
| India vs Sri Lanka | Monday, December 13 | 5 – 0 | India |
| Nepal vs Sri Lanka | Wednesday, December 15 | 6 – 0 | Nepal |
| India vs Bhutan | Wednesday, December 15 | 3 – 0 | India |
| Bangladesh vs India | Friday, December 17 | 1 – 0 | Bangladesh |
| Nepal vs Bhutan | Friday, December 17 | 4 – 0 | Nepal |
| Nepal vs India | Sunday, December 19 | 0 – 1 | India |
| Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka | Sunday, December 19 | 12 – 0 | Bangladesh |
Points table
| Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Bangladesh | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 19 | 10 |
| India | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 9 |
| Nepal | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 9 | 7 |
| Bhutan | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 13 | -8 | 3 |
| Sri Lanka | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 28 | -28 | 0 |
Sri Lanka conceded 28 goals in the tournament and did not scored a goal and Bangladesh is leading the points table followed by the Indian U19 Women’s team
Sri Lankan team consist of 23 players and 9 officials
| No | Name | School |
| 1. | W.M.K.Imesha | Visakha BMV Colombo |
| 2. | E.M.P.M.Ekanayake | Maliyadeva BMV Kurunegala |
| 3. | J.S.S.Subashi Madushani | Maliyadeva BMV Kurunegala |
| 4. | W.M.O.S.Bandara | Maliyadeva BMV Kurunegala |
| 5. | J.M.H.B.Hunukumbura | Maliyadeva BMV Kurunegala |
| 6. | A.M.C.Vishmika Bandara | Maliyadeva BMV Kurunegala |
| 7. | J.A.U.K.Jayakody | Kavisigamuwa C.C Kurunegala |
| 8. | N.B.Tharindi Janithya | Viharamahadevi BMV Gampaha |
| 9. | T.Hashini Kawshalya | St.John MV Kalutara |
| 10. | W.A.L.Tharindi Ranshani | Jayakody MV Gampaha |
| 11. | U.Jokitha | Mahajana College Jaffna |
| 12. | R.Kirushanthini | Mahajana College Jaffna |
| 13. | M.Valanteena | Mahajana College Jaffna |
| 14. | S.Tharmika | Mahajana College Jaffna |
| 15. | P.Iroshini Sewmali | Sri Siddhartha NS Ambalangoda |
| 16. | Senuri Kavinya Gallage | Sri Siddhartha NS Ambalangoda |
| 17. | Maleeka Amith | Gateway International Colombo |
| 18. | S.Nimesha Sandaruwani | Bandiwewa MV Polonnaruwa |
| 19. | Rashmi Kaveesha | Bandiwewa MV Polonnaruwa |
| 20. | M.A.Dulani Sandeepani | Bandiwewa MV Polonnaruwa |
| 21. | Sanduni Nisansala | St.Joseph College Gampola |
| 22. | W.M.G.S.Bandara | SWRD Bandaranayake MV Kandy |
| 23. | K.P.Amavi Anuththra Kahatapitiya | Bandaranayake MV – Veyangoda |
Officials
- Mr.Manjula C. Sirisena Head Coach
- Ms.T.G.D.K.Samarasinghe Asst.Coach
- Ms.D.M.Menaka Dissanayake Asst.Coach
- Mr.Ranjith Hettiarachchi Goal Keeper Coach
- Ms.J.M.Ganga S.Jayasundara Masseur
- Ms.P.Selliah School Official
- Dr.M.R.C.F. Jayasuriya Manager/Team Doctor
- Mr.Marcus V.Mota Perreira Trainer
- Hassimdeen Mohamed Farook Official
Sri Lankan Matches
Bhutan vs Sri Lanka
India vs Sri Lanka
Nepal vs Sri Lanka
Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka
Football Sri Lanka President Mr Jaswar Umar stated that “Don’t underestimate Women football and women talents in Sri Lanka. These little girls were given an opportunity to experience international competitive football. This is just the start of their era and they will now get into club competition from January. These girls never had an opportunity to play football for last so many years. We are now beginning with a new bold step to start women football in Sri Lanka with strong strategies. We are happy to take part in this competition as a beginning. Sri Lanka women football will come to a strong level soon”
