Table of Contents

Lesson 5 The Unbeaten Girls from Kalsindur

A. Look at the picture from Kalsindur and discuss the following questions.

a. Who are these girls?
b. Are you familiar with such pictures? Why/Why not?

Answer:

a. Who are these girls?

The girls in the picture are football players from Kalsindur, a village in Mymensingh district, Bangladesh. They are known for their exceptional achievements in football and have represented Bangladesh at various national and international levels. Notable names include Sabina Akhter, Sanjida Akhter, Shiuli Azim, Mariya Manda, and several others who have significantly contributed to the success of Bangladesh’s national women’s football teams.

b. Are you familiar with such pictures? Why/Why not?

Yes, I am familiar with such pictures. They often depict groups of athletes, especially women, who have achieved significant milestones in their respective sports. These images highlight their achievements and the impact of their dedication and hard work. Such pictures are common when showcasing the success stories of athletes who have overcome challenges and brought pride to their communities and countries.

B. Read the text and answer the questions that follow.

In a traditional society like ours, little boys and girls are given separate sets of toys. While toys for boys include cars, guns or footballs, girls have to be satisfied with dolls (often Barbie dolls) and doll-houses or miniature cooking utensils. The underlying assumption is that boys are active and full of vigour, but girls are naive and lack the intelligence or energy to match their male counterparts.

This false assumption has been shattered plenty of times in the recent decades as girls began to show their power and women began competing with men in almost all areas of life. It has been conclusively proved wrong most recently by the girls of Kalsindur, a village in a remote area in Dhobaura upazila in Mymensingh district. The villagers are mostly hardworking people.

Even a few years ago, there was no electricity in the village. But some girls have illuminated the village — both literally and metaphorically — with their belief in themselves and their skill in the game of football. The village has emerged now as a footballer factory and a symbol of girl power. And in recognition of their success, the village was provided electricity by the government.

Sabina Akhter, Sanjida Akhter (7th under 16 promising female player of Asia in 2014), Shiuli Azim, Mariya Manda (Captain, Under 15 Female Football Team 2017), Shamsunnahar senior (who scored the solitary goal against India which ensured SAFF Under 15 Women Championship in 2017), Shamsunnahar junior (Captain of Under 15 National Football Team 2019).

Tahura Khatun (who scored 40 goals in international matches till 2021), Marzia Khatun, Mahmuda Khatun, Nazma Akhter, Sajeda Akhter, Rozina Khatun, Taniya Akhter, Rupa Akhter, Kalpana Akhter, Purnima Vaskar are names of some bright stars in Bangladesh Women’s National Football Team. They all are from Kalsindur village. Their talent and determination have brought them to where they are now.

While in Kalsindur Government Primary School the girls had a hat-trick record of the championship in Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib Gold Cup Primary School Football Tournament in 2013, 2014 and 2015. After completing primary education they moved on to Kalsindur Secondary School.

While there, they became four-time champions in the National Summer Sports Competition for Schools, Madrasas and Technical institutions in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2019. Kalsindur girls also clinched the Girls’ Football Championship in Inter-College (UMA) Games and Sports Competition in 2019-20.

The Bangladesh girls’ football team won the AFC Under 14 Regional Football Championship 2015 in Nepal and the team was dominated by Kalsindur footballers. Do you know the team that won the championship in AFC Under 14 Regional Football Tournament 2016 in Tajikistan also had eight Kalsindur girls including the captain and the highest scorer? Bangladesh National Women’s Football Team was champion in Hong Kong Under-15 Women’s Jockey Cup and Kalsindur girls led the match.

They also proved themselves when Bangladesh shared championship jointly with Laos in the 1st Bangamata International Under-19 Woman Tournament in 2019. Who could even think that these girls would seize the 1st SAFF Under-18 Women Championship in Bhutan in 2018, remaining unbeaten? The whole nation was so overwhelmed at their success that the Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, gave them a warm reception at Ganabhaban where Tahura (the highest scorer in the tournament) along with her comrades requested her to nationalize their secondary school and the desire was fulfilled immediately.

The success of Kalsindur girls reads like an epic. They started their journey with practically nothing. They didn’t have any boots or jerseys to wear. Initially, they played wearing salwar and kamij. They also suffered from malnutrition. What made them win against all adversities then? What was the magic behind?

Mohammad Mafiz Uddin was an assistant teacher at Kalsindur Government Free Primary School where Minati Rani Sheel was the head teacher. They observed the girls’ interests in football and decided to help. It was, however, not that easy. Girls playing football is still not a common picture in Bangladesh. Guardians were not convinced as they were used to seeing girls helping mothers with household chores.

A farmer, an auto-rickshaw driver, a tea-shop owner or a housemaid mother couldn’t be that ambitious either. But Minati Rani Sheel and Mohammad Mafiz Uddin persuaded them to allow their daughters to play. Being great motivators, the two teachers supported the girls in their effort to overcome the odds. They inspired them, created opportunities for them and took personal care of them. Soon the girls could prove themselves, shaking off their inhibition. Their success has also persuaded the villagers to come to their support.

When the girls moved to the nearby secondary school and college, they did not have their Minati Maam and Mafiz Uddin Sir with them, but soon another motherly person offered her helping hand — Mala Rani Sarkar, an Assistant Professor of History — who was joined by one of her colleagues, Juel Mia. They agreed to coach the girls. Mr. Jalaluddin, who was then the head teacher of the school, also supported them. Gradually the local community, public representatives and the local administration came forward.

Bangladesh Football Federation also gave special attention to them and finally another football magician, Golam Robbani Choton, the coach of the Bangladesh Women’s National Football Team, mentored these girls and helped them become complete professional footballers.

Now people realize what their golden girls could bring for them. “When these girls go from one place to another, even the auto-rickshaw pullers don’t take any fare from them as they are the pride of the village. It’s a small token of recognition but it’s great!,” says Mala Rani Sarkar, the Team Manager of Kalisindur Women’s Football Team. She also adds that Kalsindur would present more female footballers in future, as of 2021 they are grooming another 65 girls to play for the nation.

C. Each of the words below has multiple meanings where one is correct and three are false. Tick the correct ones.

1. Barbie-dolls mean —
a. a doll representing a conventionally attractive young woman.
b. a doll with a headdress passing over or under the chin and covering the neck.
c. a doll with many barbs around her chin and neck.
d. a doll conventionally attractive and young with a family title Barbie.

2. What does ‘counterpart’ mean?
a. enemy b. competitor c. peer d. opponent

3. The word ‘illumiate’ means to
a. darken b. dim c. brighten _— d. obscure

4. The word ‘emerge’ means to
a. disappear b. turn up c. vanish d. leave

5. The word ‘mentor’ means —
a. trainer b. observer c. counsellor d. checker

6. Which of the following words is an antonym of the word ‘clinch’?
a. confirm b. approve c. disown d. secure

7. What is an epic?
a. a kind of a long poem b. a kind of long narrative
c. a kind of a long play c. a kind of a long dialogue

Answer:

Barbie-dolls mean —
- a. a doll representing a conventionally attractive young woman.
What does ‘counterpart’ mean?
- c. peer
The word ‘illuminate’ means to
- c. brighten
The word ‘emerge’ means to
- b. turn up
The word ‘mentor’ means —
- a. trainer
Which of the following words is an antonym of the word ‘clinch’?
- c. disown
What is an epic?
- b. a kind of long narrative

D. Write sentences with the words below and provide their Bangla equivalent words in the blanks spaces provided:

unleash
comrade
adversities
intrinsic
groom
inhibition
Answer:

Answer:

Here are sentences for each word along with their Bangla equivalents:

Unleash
- Sentence: The coach decided to unleash the team’s full potential during the final match.
- Bangla: মুক্ত করা
- Sentence in Bangla: কোচ সিদ্ধান্ত নিয়েছিল ফাইনাল ম্যাচে দলের পূর্ণ সম্ভাবনা মুক্ত করতে।
Comrade
- Sentence: The soldiers fought side by side, knowing they were comrades in arms.
- Bangla: সহকর্মী
- Sentence in Bangla: সৈনিকরা পাশাপাশি লড়াই করেছিল, জানত তারা অস্ত্রের সহকর্মী।
Adversities
- Sentence: Despite the many adversities they faced, the team never gave up.
- Bangla: বিপত্তি
- Sentence in Bangla: তারা যে সমস্ত বিপত্তি মুখোমুখি হয়েছিল সত্ত্বেও, দল কখনও হার মানেনি।
Intrinsic
- Sentence: The desire to succeed is intrinsic to every athlete.
- Bangla: অন্তর্নিহিত
- Sentence in Bangla: সফলতার ইচ্ছা অন্তর্নিহিতভাবে প্রতিটি খেলোয়াড়ের মধ্যে রয়েছে।
Groom
- Sentence: The school aims to groom students to become future leaders.
- Bangla: প্রস্তুত করা
- Sentence in Bangla: স্কুলটির উদ্দেশ্য হল ছাত্রদের ভবিষ্যতের নেতাদের হিসেবে প্রস্তুত করা।
Inhibition
- Sentence: Her shyness was an inhibition that prevented her from speaking in public.
- Bangla: প্রতিবন্ধকতা
- Sentence in Bangla: তার লাজব shyতা ছিল একটি প্রতিবন্ধকতা যা তাকে জনসমক্ষে কথা বলার থেকে বিরত রেখেছিল।

E. Answer the following questions.

1. How do people commonly discriminate between genders?
2. How do the Kalsindur girls owe a lot to their teachers and guardians?
3. What is the moral of the story and how does it affect you?
4. Who, according to you, contributed the most to Kalsindur girls’ success? Why
do you think so?
5. Justify the statement — the story is a good example of reciprocal respect.

Answer:

Here are the answers to the questions:

How do people commonly discriminate between genders?People commonly discriminate between genders by assigning different roles, responsibilities, and expectations based on gender stereotypes. For example, boys are often given toys like cars and footballs, which are associated with physical activity and aggression, while girls are given dolls and kitchen sets, which are associated with nurturing and domesticity. This type of discrimination reinforces the belief that boys are naturally more active and capable, while girls are more passive and less competent, limiting opportunities and reinforcing traditional gender roles.
How do the Kalsindur girls owe a lot to their teachers and guardians?The Kalsindur girls owe a lot to their teachers and guardians because they provided crucial support and encouragement that helped the girls overcome significant barriers. Minati Rani Sheel and Mohammad Mafiz Uddin, among others, recognized the girls’ potential and persuaded their families to support their interest in football. They helped create opportunities for the girls to play, trained them, and motivated them despite societal resistance. This support was instrumental in helping the girls achieve their remarkable success in football.
What is the moral of the story and how does it affect you?The moral of the story is that with determination, support, and belief in oneself, individuals can overcome societal barriers and achieve greatness. It highlights the importance of challenging stereotypes and providing opportunities regardless of gender. This story is inspiring because it demonstrates how perseverance and support can lead to extraordinary achievements, motivating individuals to pursue their passions and break through limitations imposed by societal norms.
Who, according to you, contributed the most to Kalsindur girls’ success? Why do you think so?According to me, the teachers and mentors who supported the Kalsindur girls, particularly Minati Rani Sheel and Mohammad Mafiz Uddin, contributed the most to their success. Their belief in the girls’ potential and their efforts to persuade the community and provide necessary support were pivotal. These teachers not only offered guidance and training but also worked to overcome cultural barriers and inspire the girls to excel. Their dedication and commitment laid the foundation for the girls’ achievements.
Justify the statement — the story is a good example of reciprocal respect.The story is a good example of reciprocal respect because it illustrates how mutual support and respect between individuals and their community can lead to success. The Kalsindur girls showed respect for their mentors and coaches by working hard and achieving excellence in football. In return, the mentors and community members respected the girls’ potential and provided them with the necessary support and encouragement. This reciprocal relationship created a positive cycle of respect and achievement, where both parties contributed to and benefited from each other’s success.

F. Make a flow chart on the major success of Kalsindur girls.

Supported by Minati Rani and Mafiz Uddin

Answer:

Major Success of Kalsindur Girls

Early Support and Recognition
Primary School Achievements
Secondary School Achievements
National and International Success
Community and Government Support
Continued Development and Future Prospects

G. Change the speech of the following text.

“When these girls go from one place to another, even the auto-rickshaw pullers don’t take any fare from them as they are the pride of the village. It’s a small token of recognition but it’s great!,” says Mala Rani Sarkar, the Team Manager of Kalisindur Women Football Team.

Answer:

Mala Rani Sarkar, Team manager of Kalisindur Women Football Team, says that when these girls go from one place to another, even the auto-rickshaw pullers don’t take any fare from them as they are the pride of the village. It’s a small token of recognition but it’s great.

H. Work in pairs. Suppose you have a sister or cousin who wants to play football or cricket or any other outdoor game. What suggestions will you give her and why?

Answer:

If you have a sister or cousin who wants to play football, cricket, or any other outdoor game, here are some suggestions you can give her:

Encourage Her Passion:
- Suggestion: “If you enjoy playing football or cricket, keep pursuing it with passion.”
- Reason: Pursuing something you love can be fulfilling and motivating. Encouragement will help her stay committed and enthusiastic about the sport.
Join a Club or Team:
- Suggestion: “Consider joining a local sports club or team to get regular practice and improve your skills.”
- Reason: Being part of a team provides structured training, valuable experience, and opportunities to play with others who share her interest.
Focus on Training and Practice:
- Suggestion: “Make sure to practice regularly and work on your skills. Consistent training is key to improvement.”
- Reason: Regular practice helps develop technical skills, physical fitness, and game understanding, which are crucial for excelling in any sport.
Seek Guidance from Coaches and Experienced Players:
- Suggestion: “Find a coach or mentor who can provide guidance and feedback to help you improve.”
- Reason: Coaches and experienced players can offer valuable advice, techniques, and support to help her develop her abilities.
Set Goals and Stay Positive:
- Suggestion: “Set personal goals for your performance and stay positive even when facing challenges.”
- Reason: Setting goals gives direction and motivation. A positive attitude helps overcome obstacles and maintain resilience.
Balance Sports with Other Responsibilities:
- Suggestion: “Balance your sports activities with other responsibilities like studies and family time.”
- Reason: Maintaining a balance ensures that she can enjoy sports while also fulfilling other important aspects of her life.
Stay Healthy and Take Care of Your Body:
- Suggestion: “Pay attention to your nutrition, get enough rest, and avoid injuries by following proper techniques.”
- Reason: Good physical health and proper care are essential for performance and longevity in sports.
Have Fun and Enjoy the Game:
- Suggestion: “Remember to have fun and enjoy playing the game, regardless of the outcome.”
- Reason: Enjoying the sport will keep her motivated and make the experience more rewarding.

These suggestions will help her get started and make the most out of her experience in playing sports.

I. Write a letter to the local sports authority to arrange an inter-college football tournament in your area.

Answer:

[8/22/2024]

[Md Sabir Hossain]
[Local Sports Authority Name]
[Authority’s Address]
[City]

Dear [Recipient’s Name],

Subject: Request for Arranging an Inter-College Football Tournament

I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. I am writing to you on behalf of [Your School/College Name] with a proposal that I believe will greatly benefit our community and promote sportsmanship among local students.

We would like to request the local sports authority to organize an inter-college football tournament in our area. Football is an immensely popular sport among students, and such a tournament would provide a valuable opportunity for them to showcase their skills, foster team spirit, and engage in healthy competition.

Here are a few reasons why this tournament would be beneficial:

Encourages Healthy Competition: An inter-college tournament will inspire students to improve their skills and performance while engaging in friendly competition with their peers.
Promotes Physical Fitness: Regular participation in sports is essential for physical health and well-being. This tournament will encourage students to stay active and lead a healthy lifestyle.
Builds Team Spirit and Collaboration: Playing as part of a team helps students develop teamwork and collaboration skills, which are valuable both on and off the field.
Fosters Community Engagement: The event will bring together students, teachers, and families, fostering a sense of community and collective support for local talent.
Spotlight on Talent: The tournament will provide a platform for young athletes to demonstrate their abilities, potentially leading to further opportunities in sports.

We are prepared to assist in any way necessary to make this event a success. We can help with organizing teams, arranging venues, and managing logistics. Additionally, we would appreciate any support or resources the local sports authority can provide to ensure the smooth execution of the tournament.

Thank you for considering our request. We are enthusiastic about the positive impact this tournament can have on our students and the community. Please feel free to contact me at [Your Phone Number] or [Your Email Address] to discuss this proposal further.

We look forward to your favorable response and support.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Full Name]
[Your School/College Name]

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