If you get injured, there is no one around to help immediately.

Sports Correspondent: In modern football, it is almost inconceivable to imagine a team functioning without a physiotherapist. When a player suffers an injury, it is the physiotherapist who meticulously manages their step-by-step return to the pitch. They determine when an athlete can start running, when to resume ball training, and ultimately when they are fit to compete in matches.

Yet, astonishingly, the Bangladesh women’s national football team, making their debut in the Asian Cup in Australia, has arrived without a physiotherapist. Over the past two days in Sydney, the team has been training without medical supervision, leaving any injured players without professional care on-site.

The official squad list submitted by the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) had named Zakia Rahman as the team physiotherapist. However, she could not join the squad due to health reasons. Sources from BFF confirmed that Zakia recently underwent an appendicitis operation and had to step aside. Unfortunately, no replacement physiotherapist was sent with the team to Australia. The federation is now reportedly scrambling to find a physiotherapist locally in Sydney, as having one present is mandatory in official tournaments.

Previously, the team’s training camps in Dhaka and Chittagong were fully staffed with a physiotherapist available at all times. The oversight of sending the squad to Australia without confirming the presence of medical staff has raised concerns about player safety ahead of their historic Asian Cup campaign.

Meanwhile, the team continued to train yesterday under bright morning sunshine at Sydney’s Valentine Sports Park. The session included a split-squad match, allowing players to practice under match-like conditions.

Among the squad, new Swedish-based recruit Anika Rania is adjusting to her teammates and the conditions in Sydney. She acknowledged the challenges posed by the local weather, stating, “It’s very hot here, around 28 degrees Celsius, but we are adapting. Every day we are getting better. Team understanding is improving as well.”

Bangladesh Women’s National Team: Current Status

The absence of a physiotherapist at a major continental tournament could have serious implications if a player suffers an injury. Football experts stress that proper medical oversight is non-negotiable for player safety and performance. The Bangladesh Football Federation is now under pressure to urgently fill this critical gap before the team faces competitive matches.