The question and answer session with Hamza at Sylhet airport did not go well. So the media workers left Sylhet for Hamza’s home in Habiganj. Hamza attended a reception in front of his house at Bahubale Smanghat in Habiganj. After the event, after iftar, he answered various questions from journalists from Habiganj and Dhaka in the courtyard of his house.
Hamza Dewan Chowdhury has played in the world’s most popular and top football league. It has been a long-standing dream of Bangladeshi football fans to play in the Bangladesh jersey. He came to Bangladesh to play against India on March 25. That is why there was a huge crowd of football fans in Sylhet and Habiganj to see Hamza. Hamza enjoyed the gathering of so many people, “I have discussed it with my father. It feels very good.”
What number jersey will Hamza Chowdhury wear in Bangladesh? Discussions are going on in the football community about this. When journalists asked him directly about it at Hamza’s house today, he replied, “Number 8.” Hamza can play in both midfield and defense positions. He also said which position he will play in the Bangladesh team, “I like midfield.”
Thousands of people have come to see Hamza in person. Apart from this, millions of football fans follow him on social media. So much expectation from fans sometimes acts as pressure on athletes. However, Hamza does not feel pressure at all, “I do not feel pressure at all. People are coming to show love. It is not pressure, it is an inspiration to play well.”
Although Hamza grew up in Bangladeshi culture, his wife and children carry the culture of England. Hamza’s hospitality in Bangladesh and the presence of so many people are also loved by his family, “So much love, I can’t really explain it. My wife also loves so much love from everyone.”
Football is a game of goals. Bangladeshi football fans expect Hamza to score for Bangladesh. He expressed his hope of scoring in the India match on March 25 and said, ‘In Sha Allah.’ India is planning a lot for Bangladesh. Especially Bangladesh’s striker Sunil Chhetri has also returned. Hamza is not that worried about this, ‘We are not thinking about India. We are thinking about ourselves.’ The Bangladesh team will return from Saudi Arabia tomorrow. The match against India in Shillong on March 25. Hamza is hopeful of adapting to the team in just a few days of practice, ‘I am watching some practice videos. In Sha Allah, it will be good.’ He has been in contact with Bangladesh team coach Javier Cabrera for the past few days regarding preparations.
With Hamza’s arrival, many more expatriate footballers want to play for Bangladesh. Although playing in the main stage of the World Cup is a distant dream for Bangladesh, he is showing hope step by step, ‘I want to play the Asian Cup first. Then, in Sha Allah, the World Cup.’ When asked again whether it is possible in the reality of Bangladesh, he expressed his hope again. When Hamza got close, journalists started asking him questions from various angles. Hamza played for England’s Under-21 team. Although the decision to play for Bangladesh instead of England was difficult after that level, he doesn’t think it was, ‘It wasn’t really difficult. The time was different.’
Hamza has many fans in Bangladesh. Not everyone could see him up close. He wants to meet them in June, ‘I will come again in June. We will meet again then.’ He will join the national team camp tomorrow. There are some people in the national football team whose home is in the Sylhet region. So Hamza wants to speak to his teammates in Sylhet. Among the Bengali songs, his favorite is ‘Amar Sonar Bangla.’
