Hamza Chowdhury plays for Leicester City in the English Premier League. He wants to play for the Bangladeshi national team for his Bangladeshi family and his own will. Earlier Hamza played for England youth team. A youth team player from a country needs permission from their federation if they want to play for another country. He has got clearance from both FA and FIFA. He may make his debut in the Bangladesh jersey with a match against India in the Asian Cup qualifiers next March. But Hamza will step into the country's football with far-sighted thinking.
Hamza wants to change the football of Bangladesh. Apart from representing the country, he also wants to play a role in building the infrastructure of football. His other wish is to make way for Bangladeshi footballers to play at the highest level in Europe. Hamza said such a desire in an interview given to the famous English football magazine The Athletic.
The 27-year-old midfielder said he has listened to the demands of Bangladeshi fans since he joined Lister seven years ago. Born to Bangladeshi parents in Loughborough, Hamzai is set to wear the red-green jersey as a footballer playing in a top league outside the country. He led Lister. Won the FA Cup too. He has also played in Europe's second best club competition, the Europa League and the next level UEFA Conference League. His experience is sure to change the country's football. Hamza also wants to highlight Bangladesh in world football.
He told The Athletic, 'One thing has always been in my mind, that I will represent Bangladesh, especially the people of Bangladesh. In this I have also developed a good connection with the fans of Bangladesh. Every day I get messages from them, they want me to come home and play. I think I also want to present Bangladesh better in the football world.'
In Hamza's eyes, football is the main sport of Bangladesh, not cricket, 'It is probably a misconception that cricket is the main sport of Bangladesh. That's right, success is more in cricket. But I think everyone's main game is football, which they love to watch and play.'
Playing for Bangladesh, Hamza wants to show the way for Bangladeshi footballers to play in Europe, 'they are not lucky enough or their infrastructure is not so developed that these players will reach the European league. People of Bangladesh are football crazy. I hope to pave the way for more Bangladeshi footballers to play in Europe or its top five leagues.'
Hamza also wants to work on the development of age-based football in Bangladesh, 'Hopefully, with time, I will be able to create some infrastructure in age-based football in Bangladesh and the local football clubs will also participate in it.'
He also wants to work with Bangladesh Football Federation, 'Bangladesh Football Federation has already done a lot of work. But if I can give them a different perspective, a European perspective, hopefully that will help.'
Hamza has to join a completely new environment. He hopes to get a warm welcome from his new teammates, 'I'm sure I'll get a warm welcome in their dressing room. I know they will speak English, I can speak enough to communicate with them. I am looking forward to learning their traditions and culture.'
