Very few would quit the safety of a public sector job to become a full-time football manager. And especially not if you are a woman in a country like Bangladesh. Tell that to Mirona, who has done just that to become Bangladesh's first female coach at club level. "I have always dreamt of being coach of a top team and one day even the national side," Mirona, 27, was quoted as saying by <em>AFP</em>. Former Bangladesh international Mirona was an assistant manager at second-tier team Dhaka City Football Club last year when Bangladesh Navy invited her to coach their women's team. In a country like Bangladesh, that was like hitting the jackpot: a safe job with generous retirement benefits. But a few months later, Mirona got a call from her former club. She was offered the head coach's position with complete freedom – from recruiting players to preparing the team. Mirona, who grew up in a village among six siblings, did not think twice and quit the Navy, despite objection from her senior military colleagues. Dhaka City's administrative manager Robin Ahsan, also a former national player, said the club made the right decision in hiring Mirona. "Our team's performance has improved since she joined us. Her honesty and hard-working attitude are tremendous," said Ahsan. "She can mingle with players better than many male coaches in this industry." Mirona said she is having the time of her life, despite barbs from some male counterparts. "At first many people negatively commented about me being in this profession. Many male coaches couldn't take that, a woman becoming a club head coach," she said. "I believe in quality. If I have it then I know I can prove that I can train up the players," she said. Mirona says she has largely avoided criticism from the community, adding that her parents' support played a big role when she started out as a footballer more than a decade ago. Mirona was a midfielder for the national side for eight years, and also played club football in the Maldives. "There was no family pressure when I took up football. Besides, I love the sport so much that I overcome all the barriers," Mirona said.
