'It Would Have Been Best If Ronaldo Were Argentine'

Bangladesh women's football's poster lady, Rituporna Chakma, is currently in Myanmar. Amid the grand spectacle of the World Cup, she will be playing in the league while also trying to get to know the unknown land of Myanmar—and of course, her eyes will be on her beloved Argentina and her favorite star, Cristiano Ronaldo. In a long conversation with Agamir Somoy's Sudipta Ananda, Rituporna spoke about the recently concluded SAFF Women's Championship, the support she received from the Prime Minister, and of course, the World Cup!

Q: You've had a long-cherished dream of giving your mother a house. That dream is now on the path to fulfillment. The Prime Minister has stood by you...

Rituporna: I truly feel very good. It was a long-cherished dream to keep my mother in a good environment and to be able to gift her a beautiful house. With the government's assistance, the land will now be purchased. After that, the big responsibility of building the house remains. I am deeply grateful to the Prime Minister and the State Minister for Sports.

Q: But you had received that promise a long time ago, didn't you?

Rituporna: After winning the SAFF in 2022, the district administration had said they would build a house for me. Besides that, I also received such promises from many other places. Even the BCB (Bangladesh Cricket Board) had said they would build a house...

Q: Your mother and three sisters must be very happy, too?

Rituporna: Of course they are. But I really miss my father and my brother. I always remember my brother. Not just today, but every single day. If he were here, if my father were here... they would have been so happy.

Q: Tell us about your experience in this year's SAFF.

Rituporna: This year's SAFF was very tough. Every team in South Asia has improved. India is a very organized team. Nepal is also good. Bhutan has improved a lot.

Q: So does that mean we have declined? Where exactly is the shortfall?

Rituporna: Look, our team has very few experienced players. Apart from a few, everyone is young. When you play against big teams, you need experience. Our team has mostly age-group players. The average age of the squad is probably 17–18. Of course, the newcomers are good. They have a great future. But to play in a big tournament like the SAFF, experience is essential.

Q: So was it only due to the lack of experience that you couldn't succeed?

Rituporna: Football starts with the goalkeeper. When the goalkeeper plays with full commitment, everyone is automatically inspired. If the goalkeeper and defenders cannot do their jobs properly, then the forwards' task becomes difficult. I am not undermining anyone on the team or blaming anyone. The truth is, we were lacking in experience. Besides, I myself am not satisfied with my own performance. I could give only about seventy percent out of a hundred.
Q: You scored a spectacular Olympic goal in the semifinal. Doesn't scoring such a goal require a lot of practice?

Rituporna: No, I don't practice it much—I just take a few corner kick drills before a match. Actually, I always keep in mind the idea of curving the ball in the air. It doesn't always work, but luckily it does happen sometimes.

Q: Who is your biggest inspiration?

Rituporna: Sabina Apu (Sabina Khatun). She is a legend of Bangladesh. What Apu has done for women's football is unparalleled. When I first joined the national team, I was very young. I used to struggle so much just to get a photo taken with Apu. Someone like her—a legend—deserves a proper, beautiful farewell from the pitch.

Q: If Sabina, Masura, and Krishna were in the team, would you have won the title this time?

Rituporna: I don't want to say anything about that. All I will say is that I would love to see Sabina Apu get a beautiful farewell from the pitch.

Q: Sabina was the first Bangladeshi woman to play in a foreign league—though she remained within South Asia. But you are the first women's footballer to go beyond South Asia. What are your goals in Myanmar?

Rituporna: I am very excited about playing in Myanmar. My club (Ayeyawady United) is the champion from last season. I received offers from two clubs in Bhutan, but Myanmar's offer was much better. I have come here to gain experience. My goal was always to play in a country outside South Asia. I want to perform well in Myanmar. At the same time, I want to enrich myself by experiencing the environment there and mingling with new people. I'm sure I'll get the opportunity to play alongside quality footballers there, which will also help me understand my own weaknesses.

Q: The World Cup has already started. Which is your favorite team?

Rituporna: Argentina.

Q: Which four teams do you think will reach the semifinals?

Rituporna: Argentina, France, Portugal, and Brazil.

Q: As an Argentina supporter, your favorite star must be Messi, right?

Rituporna: No. My favorite is Cristiano Ronaldo. Actually, since my childhood, I have looked up to Ronaldo as my idol. I want to see the trophy lifted in his hands.

Q: What! You support Argentina but want to see Ronaldo lift the trophy?

Rituporna: What can I say—it's a very contradictory situation! It would have been best if Ronaldo were Argentine (laughs)!