‘Certain individuals throwing me under the bus’

The Bengal Tigresses maybe on the verge of embarking on their historic campaign at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, but all is not well in the Bangladesh camp. The marquee tournament, set to kick off in Australia on 1 March, will feature the very best continental women’s sides, especially Bangladesh’s group which has powerhouses China and North Korea, as well as Uzbekistan. This grand occasion calls for the optimum preparation but Bangladesh players were not helped along their way in this regard. Bangladesh women’s team head coach Peter Butler elaborates in this conversation with Daily Sun. Not one to mince his words, the 59-year old English tactician painted a clear picture of the things happening in the background. Below are the excerpts of the second and final part of this exclusive interview:

Daily Sun: The federation has reportedly stated on several occasions that you declined the proposal to hold a camp in Malaysia ahead of the AFC Asian Cup. In addition, it is said that you also declined to play against strong opponents like the Philippines. Could you comment on this?

Peter Butler: No, I can categorically and factually back up with emails. I didn't want to play Malaysia at the dates which were given. Miss Kiron (Bangladesh Football Federation’s women’s wing committee chairman Mahfuza Akter) was driving an agenda. Fahad (Karim, BFF vice president) was driving his agenda, and I get that. I don't have a problem with that. But Malaysia, we'd just played Malaysia in the tri-nations last November. What was the mileage in actually playing Malaysia again? And that wasn't even confirmed. That was done through a match agent, because I know the match agent.

And the dates were completely wrong. The dates didn't fit in or sync well with the league, which was about to start. But the league didn't start until the end of January. And then really from the end of January, we're chasing our tails, like thinking we're going to get this finished, but then nobody ever gave any really sort of thought or consideration to SAFF Under-19s. SAFF Under-19s was basically thrown upon us and we had to then make a decision. And they pause the league for this tournament, which was right because international like, age-group tournament should take precedence.

But yeah, no truth in that whatsoever that I didn't like Malaysia. I didn't want to play Malaysia, because the dates were wrong. If the dates had been different, it'd have been a different conversation. And secondly, I didn't want to play Malaysia because we'd already played Malaysia. what's the mileage in playing Malaysia? That's just playing somebody for the sake of it.

Daily Sun: There have been reports that the recent plans and decisions regarding the team are entirely your initiative, and some have criticised you for them. Also, considering the team has been busy with league matches instead of playing international games, how do you respond to these claims??

Butler: A lot of people have turned around and said that it's my plan. It's not my plan. I put together a programme which goes back six months ago. And with the opportunity of actually playing games, utilising FIFA windows and more importantly, it's 74, 75 days counting since we last participated in that tri-nations tournament. Which is a long time, the 2nd of December since the Azerbaijan game. And the momentum which was built and lost seems like a distant memory.

So, am I disappointed? Yeah, I am disappointed. Because there's a lot of things being said that it's my plan. It's not my plan. I put together something which was an opportunity, a point of reference to work from. I've asked questions whether it's finance…I get it. But come out and tell me it's finance. We know we don't have the money, we can't do this. But don't heap it all on me because I'm the type of person who'll take so much and can be lenient and flexible. But I'm not going to be sat there like a lapdog and be kicked from pillar to post when things don't go well. I'm going to come out and I'm going to back my corner.

I’d respect that, but people running to media and going around from the BFF saying "It’s Butler’s plan," it’s like throwing me under the bus before the bus has even started moving. And I refute that, and I won’t have that. And even if it means me moving on from here, which would be unfortunate, so be it. I’ve got ethics and standards and I really truly believe that you don’t go running around to the media saying that it’s Butler’s plan, it’s not Butler’s plan, it’s our plan. It’s a great plan, it’s a working, working paper.

Daily Sun: What would be a realistic expectation for this tournament, Mission Australia?

Butler: Oh, good question. Win hearts and minds, be competitive, give a good account of ourselves. But at the same time, let’s be realistic, we ain’t going to qualify for World Cups based on where we are in terms of our preparation. I think that’s, a sort of idealistic approach in terms of actually saying "Are we good enough?". We’re not at that level, we’re not at that pay grade, if you get what I’m saying. I just feel there’s a lot of potential in Bangladesh, huge potential. And I’ve got so much like…there’s a lot in me that says our next group, our next crop, our Under-19s and Under-20s which are coming through are very, very exciting and, it’s a great opportunity to actually blood those players.

But I do have to be realistic in terms of saying where we are at this present time. We’re not at that level. And being competitive, playing our football. The most important thing I would say is creating a platform, a sounding board for us to actually go and do this again. You don’t want to do this as just a one-off. You want to be able to do this as, "Okay, you go back and you do it again" in whatever it is, two years, four years' time. every time the AFC comes around you want to be in the melting pot. Every time SAFF comes round, in 2026, you want to be in the mix. You want to be competing.

There’s a lot to be sad for. I even like the girls that were here before, those who actually played their part in bringing SAFF glory to Bangladesh. I’ve got the utmost respect for that. I don’t have an issue with people looking backwards, I don’t have an issue with regards to what’s gone, is gone. I do honestly believe that we are in a situation where it’s not a development situation because Bangladesh is always going to be in a development situation. But what we are in at this present time is we’re in a bit of a state of flux.

Daily Sun: Do you believe that we can compete in this tournament, or we are prepared for this tournament?

Butler: I certainly don’t think we’re prepared. I’m playing catch-up as we speak, now I’m going in dealing with injuries. We’ve got six, seven players injured. We’ve got Nabiran (Khatun) out, she’s got an ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) problem. Let's just take her and nurture her because there's a view she can still play Under-20s in April. If you ask me “can we compete?” Yeah, I think anybody can compete. But nobody wants to go and play China and North Korea and we’ve been training at a stadium, National Stadium, which is not really great at this present time. National Stadium is a great venue to actually play at when it’s been looked after. The pitch -- there’s no water on the pitch, it’s rock hard, it’s bone hard. I’m having to modify sessions left, right, and centre. We should have started six weeks, four weeks ago, we should have been at an international camp preparing those girls. And it hasn’t happened. And for whatever reason, that disappoints me. And they know my disappointment.

Daily Sun: What is the reason behind the lack of proper preparation ahead of such a major tournament?

Butler: I’m not pointing the finger at anybody, any one individual. We’ve got certain people driving certain mandates within the departments, people have got their own agendas. I understand that. But I think the bigger picture is making sure that we’re not like whipping girls going into a tournament where we’re just cannon fodder for China, North Korea, and Uzbekistan. And mark my words, Uzbekistan are no mugs, no fools. They are from a really technical environment, football environment. I’ve been there, I nearly took the job when it was at Pakhtakor. They’ve got good players. And they’re a team who in my opinion are probably as good if not better than Azerbaijan. And Azerbaijan were decent, physically strong, powerful team.

So, yeah, I think we’ve got to be mindful of that. But to say that it was my plan is wrong. I had a plan. It wasn't perfect. No plans are ever perfect. You always start somewhere and finish somewhere else. But at least we had something to work with. And I think the most important thing is we’ve got to be honest with ourselves and stop trying to throw people under a bus before we’ve even set off. I think that’s unfair. And I’m not here to criticise people, I’m here to defend myself. That’s all I’m going to do.

Daily Sun: What is the current situation of your squad right now? Are all the players in harmony and in the right mindset before taking the field?

Butler: I’ve picked so many international squads and I’ve picked so many squads like, matchday squads. You're never going to get complete harmony. Never. If you've got complete harmony, you've got a problem. I strongly believe that we’ve got the nucleus of a really good group coming through. We’ve got experience such as Monika (Chakma), Maria (Manda), and Shamsunnahar, Shamsunnahar Jr, Tohura (Khatun), who are really important to the group. And then we have young players coming through such as Umehla (Marma), Munki (Akhter), Afeida (Khandaker), you’ve got players such as Sheuli (Azim) who gives you great experience. A lot of those girls are completely different, they're at different age groups.

So you've got to remember and be respectful for actually what they bring to the group. But again I think it’s unfair to actually surmise and believe that girls will be girls. Some might want to read a novel, others might want to listen to podcasts, others might want to listen to Beyonce (Knowles). I don't interfere with what they do. I'm there as a coach and all I want to do is to be supportive and give those girls an opportunity to actually go on and be successful.

Daily Sun: During the last Thailand tour, you expressed frustration with the team’s performance, and in the November tri-nation tournament, you were also concerned about their playing style on the field. Do you feel the team has improved since then?

Butler: I think Thailand, over 100 days ago…we played Thailand twice. Once, first time I don’t even look at that as an international friendly because it was played at a university where there were no decent floodlights, it was like you’re playing in the dark. The game nearly never went ahead. It was at a university pitch where we had to like walk 500 metres to 1000 metres to actually get back and forth from the training pitch. But the second game was completely different. Thailand’s a good team. Honestly, good team, Thailand. They play good football. They’ve had their problems, they changed the coach. I think Azerbaijan…I could not be critical of the players' performance against Malaysia and Azerbaijan. I thought they played very well. I think we played some really good football, competed. But at the same time, we come up a little bit short, bearing in mind those girls, most of those girls, had come from Bhutan (Bhutanese League) to play.

And what worries me is that we need a league. It's not like we don't need it. I'm not being critical about a league. We definitely need a league. But structure and organise your league. Quality will always overcome quantity. Go with fewer teams, we’ve got to stop this, like a situation where we’ve got two teams in the league that can only win the league. And in my opinion, this is very, very subjective, was it a league or was it a tournament? real leagues - bona fide leagues - play each other twice. But I’d rather have gone with fewer teams. And I was in agreement with the league, but the dates? No, they weren't. Because I knew full well that was going to clash with SAFF Under-19s and also, it was going to impinge and eat into our time for preparation.

Now, am I disappointed I’ve not had enough time with the girls? I know I’ve not had enough time with the girls. We know that. And it’s something I have to like live with. But I’m not having this "it was Butler’s plan." That’s wrong. That is inaccurate. And I’ve got emails and everything else to back that up. there’s a lot I know, Miss Kiron was trying to drive a trip to Malaysia, which didn’t really fit in because I knew the match agent who was delivering that and he, actually we used to speak on a basis of what dates would be suitable.

So let’s get this right, I do not for any stretch of the imagination turn down international friendlies. I do not. I’ll always take a game, and whether it be the Middle East or whether it be like going to Jordan…we went to Jordan and played Indonesia which were great, great opportunities. Sometimes you learn more in adversity and sometimes you learn more from like hitting potholes and speed bumps in the road than you do from actually playing lesser teams. I thought this little event against Under-19 SAFF side would have been a great opportunity for the girls.

It coincided where we ended up, like getting beat at the final death, but the girls were spent. Too many meetings, too many clandestine meetings. Management coming in, Miss Kiron coming in, holding meetings with the players, staff holding meetings with the players - that, you can't do that. Not behind my back, not thinking I’m not going to find out. That was wrong. Completely wrong. And this has to stop.

Daily Sun: Do you want to set the record straight with anybody?

Butler: Listen, let me put things in a nutshell. I am not here to be critical of anybody. But I am here to defend myself because I am getting thrown under the bus by certain individuals. So I want to make that perfectly clear. And that's the reason why we're here today is that too many untruths are being spoken and told. And it's not it's not my plan. It's his (Fahad) plan because all he wanted to do was finish the league. It's all Fahad's plan, not mine.