The girl who once set the goalpost alight is now a goal-scoring machine.

When the curtain fell on the SAFF Under-19 Women’s Football Championship in Pokhara the day before yesterday, the Bangladesh team’s dressing room was heavy with disappointment. A lacklustre performance in the final had cost them the coveted trophy, leaving players and coaches alike crestfallen. Yet amidst the gloom, one star shone bright: Alpi Akter.

The teenager from Panchagarh not only emerged as the tournament’s top scorer with seven goals, but also claimed the prestigious Player of the Tournament award.

Alpi’s journey to this stage, however, has been far from easy. It is a story intertwined with her father’s modest livelihood and the unwavering support of her elder brother. Alpi hails from Ward No. 4 of Boda Municipality, Panchagarh. Her father, Ataur Rahman, runs a small tea and biscuit stall in Boda market. Supporting the family on this modest income is challenging enough; nurturing a daughter’s football ambitions seemed almost a luxury.

Initially, societal attitudes posed another barrier. Many questioned why a girl should play football or cut her hair short. Parents often face pressure to discourage daughters from pursuing sports and direct them instead towards household responsibilities. Alpi’s parents, too, wished for her to stay away from the football field.

But her elder brother, Nur Alam, became her pillar of support. Speaking to Prothom Alo from Panchagarh, he recalled, “People would comment about her hair, and even our parents were worried. But I always stood by Alpi and encouraged her to pursue her passion.”

Alpi’s football journey began in the third or fourth grade with the Bangamata Gold Cup. Interestingly, she started not as a striker, but as a goalkeeper at Bania Para Primary School in Boda. Her talent was soon spotted by Mofazzal Hossain Bipul, coach of the Boda-to-Star Football Academy, who transitioned her from goalkeeping to striking. Nur Alam remembers, “Even the school headmaster would personally take her to the field on his motorbike. Coach Bipul said, ‘Take her to my academy; she will go far.’”

The coach’s foresight proved correct. After two years as a goalkeeper in school and academy competitions, Alpi excelled as a striker, eventually becoming Rangpur Division’s top forward and earning a spot in the national U-16 camp, from where her international career began. In the current women’s league in Dhaka, she has already scored 25 goals in 8 matches for Rajshahi Stars—the league’s highest tally.

Alpi is no stranger to athletic versatility. She excels in sprinting, high jump, long jump, and swimming, holding 18 certificates from various competitions. This year, she will sit for her SSC exams at Boda Pilot Girls School and College.

Despite missing the SAFF U-19 championship title, her determination remains unshaken. Speaking to her brother by phone, she admitted her disappointment over the final. Nur Alam reflected, “She was upset about the final, but we are proud of her achievements. Alpi has proven that talent and perseverance can overcome every obstacle.”

Alpi Akter’s story is one of resilience—navigating familial, societal, and sporting challenges—and emerging as one of South Asia’s brightest young talents in women’s football.