The girl who once set the goalposts on fire is now a goal-scoring machine.

When the curtain fell on the SAFF U-19 Women’s Championship in Pokhara, Nepal, two days ago, the Bangladesh team’s dressing room was filled with disappointment. The sting of losing the final due to a subpar performance lingered heavily. Yet amid that gloom, one young star stood out: Alpi Akter. The teenager from Panchagarh not only finished as the tournament’s top scorer with seven goals but also claimed the Player of the Tournament award, signalling the arrival of a new talent in South Asian women’s football.

Alpi’s journey to the spotlight has been anything but easy. It is a story intertwined with the modest struggles of her father and the unwavering support of her elder brother. Hailing from Ward No. 4 of Boda Municipality in Panchagarh, Alpi is the daughter of Ataur Rahman, who runs a small tea-and-biscuit stall in Boda market. Managing a household on such a limited income is challenging in itself; nurturing a daughter’s football dream seemed almost a luxury. Initially, societal expectations posed another barrier. Critics suggested that as a girl, she should abandon football and focus on domestic chores, even commenting on her short hair. Her parents feared the social scrutiny but steadfastly supported her ambition, encouraged by her elder brother, Nur Alam.

“People used to talk about her haircut and doubted her dedication. Even our parents were worried and suggested she give up. I always convinced them otherwise and supported Alpi fully,” Nur Alam told Prothom Alo over the phone from Panchagarh.

Alpi’s football journey began in the third or fourth grade at Boda Baniapara Primary School, participating in the Bangamata Gold Cup tournament. At that time, she was not a striker but a goalkeeper. Her talent was soon recognised by Mofazzal Hossain Bipul, coach of the registered Boda-to-Star Football Academy, who moved her from the goalpost to a striking position. “Our school headmaster would take her to the field on his motorbike. Coach Bipul told him, ‘She has the potential to go far,’” recalled Nur Alam.

The coach’s judgement proved accurate. After two years of playing as a goalkeeper in the academy and the Bangamata Cup, Alpi transitioned to a striker role. Today, she is the top scorer in the current Bangladesh Women’s League, netting 25 goals in 8 matches for Rajshahi Stars.

Alpi’s talents extend beyond football; she is also proficient in sprinting, high jump, long jump, and swimming, with 18 certificates from various competitions to her name. She is preparing to sit her SSC examinations this year at Boda Pilot Girls’ School and College.

Although she could not lead Bangladesh to the SAFF U-19 title, her determination remains undiminished. From a modest household, overcoming societal hurdles, and enduring the rigours of the pitch, Alpi Akter has emerged as the finest talent in her age group in South Asia.

Her brother Nur Alam sums it up: “Alpi may be disappointed about the final, but we are proud of her. She has shown that with talent and determination, no obstacle is insurmountable.”