Defensive midfielder Sohel Rana shared that Hamza’s goal on his debut in Bangladesh brought even greater joy to the local players.
When it comes to quality, Bhutan coach Atsushi Nakamura says Hamza Chowdhury stands apart — especially compared to other South Asian players — thanks to his experience playing in England. But how about his mindset? Sohel Rana gave the answer. The Bangladeshi midfielder added that they are constantly learning from Hamza.
In Wednesday’s 2-0 win against Bhutan at Dhaka’s National Stadium, Hamza put the team ahead early. His main role is to support the defense while also setting the rhythm for the attack. Shortly after the second half began, another midfielder, Sohel himself, doubled the lead with a brilliant volley.
Next Tuesday, Bangladesh will face Singapore in a crucial third-round match of the Asian Cup qualifiers.
Undoubtedly, football fans in Bangladesh are eagerly watching Hamza closely. Since donning the red and green jersey, he has sparked excitement and curiosity nationwide.
Everyone knows Hamza’s skills on the pitch, but what about off it? What kind of person is he? How well are local players like Saad Ibrahim adapting to him? What tips is he sharing, and how much are they learning? Sohel explained that they’re learning from Hamza every single moment.
“It’s not really about giving tips — we always learn from Hamza. As long as we’re with him, we learn. After he scored, every player celebrated with him, which he really appreciated. If you ask him, you’ll hear the same thing,” said Sohel.
“Everyone mixes well with Hamza with an open mind. He’s a very open person. It doesn’t feel like he’s someone from abroad. It feels like he’s one of us, one of our own from Bangladesh. We don’t think of him as an expat.”
It’s not just Hamza — two other expatriates recently joined the team. Fahmidul Islam played against Bhutan, while Shomit Some is yet to make his debut. The Canadian league midfielder could make his first appearance against Singapore. If that happens, Sohel’s spot in midfield might become more competitive despite his goal against Bhutan.
For now, Sohel’s focus is on carrying forward the joy and momentum into the Singapore match.
“After every win, the dressing room is filled with happiness, and yesterday was no different. Especially since it was Hamza’s first match on home soil and he scored, the players felt even more joy. We’ll try to keep this happiness alive going forward. The atmosphere of joy in the dressing room after a win — we want to maintain that,” Sohel said.
