By Our Reporter
Shillong, May 25: From the indigenous Garo community to the captaincy of a national football team, midfielder Maria Manda Sangma’s journey has become a powerful symbol of how tribal women athletes from the hills continue to break barriers in South Asian football.
Ahead of the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 in Goa, Bangladesh women’s team head coach Peter James Butler announced Maria Manda as the new captain of the side, marking yet another milestone in the inspiring rise of the Garo footballer.
For the Garos, particularly in the northeastern region of the subcontinent where football is deeply woven into daily life, Maria’s achievement carries immense significance. At a time when women from indigenous communities often struggle for visibility and opportunities in mainstream sport, Maria has emerged as one of the brightest success stories from the hills.
Born into the Garo community, Maria steadily climbed through Bangladesh’s youth football structure with determination and consistency. She first came into prominence while captaining the Bangladesh Under-15 team to an undefeated title-winning campaign against India, showcasing leadership qualities at a very young age.Her rise continued when she co-captained the side that won the 2014 AFC U-14 Regional Championship in Tajikistan. She later played a key leadership role in Bangladesh’s unbeaten AFC U-16 qualifying campaign, further cementing her reputation as one of the country’s most dependable midfielders.Over the years, Maria established herself as the heartbeat of Bangladesh’s midfield, earning recognition not only for her work ethic and composure on the ball, but also for her ability to inspire teammates from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
