Hamza Chowdhury left a remarkable impact in his debut match for Bangladesh, playing the entire 90 minutes as a midfield general and a vigilant defender. He thwarted the opposition’s attacks and created goal-scoring opportunities for his team. His performance in the Asian Cup qualifiers against India was nothing short of dominating, earning him praise from former Bangladesh national football players.
Former captain Biplob Bhattacharya credited Hamza for transforming the team’s defense. He praised Hamza’s tactical awareness and leadership, which, according to him, changed the face of the Bangladesh team. “Hamza’s presence made the defense solid. He gave leadership in both midfield and defense. Bangladesh needed a leader like him,” Biplob said.
Former forward Zahid Hasan Emilio was equally impressed, calling Hamza the standout player of the match. “In my view, Hamza was the man of the match. He was completely different from the rest of the players. His experience in the English Premier League showed, as he defended, blocked attacks, and even created chances in the opponent’s box.”
However, football experts noticed a difference between Hamza and players like Rakib and Morchaline. While the latter’s stamina and consistency fluctuated during the match, Hamza maintained his high-level performance until the final minute.
Former Bangladesh goalkeeper Aminul Haque believes the gap in quality between players like Hamza and others cannot easily be bridged. “At this stage, it’s tough to reduce the difference in quality. It requires proper grassroots training, which we currently lack,” he said.
Aminul also sees Hamza as a positive example for younger players, pointing out the difference in professionalism and work ethic. “Hamza’s performance shows the gap between him and our players. There’s a lot we can learn from him,” he added.
Former footballer Sheikh Mohammad Aslam echoed similar sentiments, saying, “With Hamza in the team, we no longer have to worry about defense.” Former goalkeeper of Mohammedan, Saeed Hasan Kanan, also praised Hamza’s performance, stating, “It took him a little time to adjust, but once he did, it was clear that Hamza was the standout player on the field!”
