Pundits expect the stands to be full for Bangladesh’s SAFF match against Sri Lanka on Thursday, because Bangladesh’s poster boy Hamza Choudhury will take the field. In the first match, the stands did not fill even though ticket prices were cut at the last minute.
After playing for Sheffield on Saturday, he was due to board a flight to Dhaka today. Farhan Ali Wahid will arrive with him on Monday morning.
Morsalin believes the arrival of the two stars will further strengthen the team’s unity. “We are certainly very hopeful. When Hamza bhai and Farhan come, our team spirit will rise even more,” he said. Morsalin said on Saturday that he is ready for the match himself. He missed the squad for the first match against Bhutan with a fever, so coach Thomas Dooley was forced to play Biswanath at number nine. After training with the team on Saturday, Morsalin said: “I am ready to play the match. We all agree that Sri Lanka are a very good side. We are not taking them lightly. Since we won the first match, all of our confidence has gone up a lot. We will play to win.”
Against Bhutan, Dooley was without four of his best players: Hamza, Morsalin and Farhan, along with Topu Barman. There is doubt over Topu for the Sri Lanka match too, but he may have everyone else. The question remains whether the coach will again play defender Biswanath up front. For now, the word is that Dooley wants to use Biswanath’s pace in attack again and keep Hamza in midfield. He will also give Farhan match time and use Morsalin for part of the game. The media may question the coach’s plan, but there is faith in the dressing room. Morsalin stands by Biswanath. “We have had a number nine problem for a long time, everyone knows that. Wherever we get a chance… for example, although I am a midfielder I have often played as an attacking midfielder. Wherever the coach gives me a chance, I have to be ready to play there. Biswanath dada tried too. Though a defender, he played well in attack, or tried to. I think everyone in the squad should have that mindset: wherever you get a chance, you have to do well.”
Another rumour heard outside the team is that there is an emotional distance between local players and those of Bangladeshi heritage from abroad. Morsalin dismissed it outright. “No, I don’t think there is anything like that. I feel that everyone in the Bangladesh team plays for the country. Together we want to give the country the joy of winning again and again.”
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report