Ritu’s golazo for late little brother lights up Yangon
As the scoreboard flashed 7-0 in Yangon on Sunday, it was easy to lose sight of the human stories behind Bangladesh's breathtaking win over Bahrain in the AFC Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers. But one goal rose above the rest, both in its audacity and its meaning.
The second goal of the night, Ritu Porna Chakma's thunderbolt from distance was more than just a golazo. From the Thuwunna Stadium, it was a message sent skyward, three years to the day since she lost her younger brother to a tragic electrocution accident.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. "Today your third death anniversary. Three years passed. Cizi love you a lot, miss you a lot. May everyone pray for the peace of my brother's soul," Ritu wrote on social media after the match.
Her strike -- crisp, fearless, and precise -- reflected both personal grief and professional pride. For those who've followed her journey, it was vintage Ritu: a forward who doesn't wait for the perfect chance, but creates one out of nothing.
The same bold intent lit up the SAFF Women's Championship final in 2024, where her left-footed curler sealed Bangladesh's title win in Kathmandu. That goal earned her the tournament's Most Valuable Player award. Sunday's strike was another reminder of why.
Raised in Magachhari, a remote village in Rangamati, Ritu's journey to the top tier of South Asian football has been paved with challenges few can imagine. From the hill tracts to the University of Dhaka, where she now studies Philosophy, the 21-year-old has carried her dreams -- and the memory of her brother -- every step of the way.
In Yangon, she carried her team forward, too.
While Bangladesh's performance was defined by collective cohesion and technical fluency, Ritu's goal set the tone -- bold and defiant against a side ranked 36 places higher in the FIFA rankings.
Operating as a mobile winger in Peter Butler's 3-5-2 system, she provided not just width but belief. Her energy on the flank kept Bahrain pinned, and her confidence to take a chance from range reflected a microcosm of this team's spirit.
Like many of her teammates, every time Ritu laces up her boots, she brings a piece of that journey with her. And it shows.
"For me, football is life," she had told The Daily Star. "A dream I cherish is to open an academy in my brother's name. That's my way of keeping him with me."
As Bangladesh prepare for their crucial second group game against hosts Myanmar, this win may have felt like a breeze. But for those who know what it took to get here, it's a gust of something greater.
Eventually, this result is a massive one in more ways than one: for the scoreboard, the stakes, and the attention it commands. And in the heart of it all stands Ritu Porna Chakma, showing once again that behind every goal lies a story, and behind this team lies a fire that refuses to die.
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