Jannatul Ferdous Fariha Moni, a teenage footballer from Nandaraypur village in Lalpur upazila of Natore, was named Man of the Tournament at the national Under-14 girls’ football competition organised by Notun Kuri Sports. She received the individual honour at the closing ceremony held Monday at Dhaka’s Army Stadium, where Prime Minister Tarique Rahman presented awards to players from the champion and runner-up teams.

Fariha played a key role in taking the Rajshahi division to the final. She scored four goals in a 5-0 win over Barishal and added one in a 2-0 semifinal victory against Khulna, accounting for five of her side’s seven goals across the two matches. Although the team did not win the final, her performance throughout the tournament impressed the judges. Fariha credited her teammates’ passing and said the achievement belonged to the whole team.

The player trained at North Bengal Football Academy after cycling about eight kilometres daily despite poverty, household work and social taunts. Coach Mohammad Jewel supported her with travel costs, training expenses and equipment. Lalpur’s executive officer, Barkat Ullah, said the administration would stand by talented athletes like her, while Jewel said proper care and opportunity could bring her further success.