Papon Singh didn't wait any longer to score the winning goal at Kings Arena. After the match, he joined the celebration with his teammates. Then at night he ran to his family in Barhatta, Netrakona. His wife and daughter and mother and others were waiting there. After celebrating with his teammates on the field, he couldn't bear to celebrate with his family. It was supposed to happen! Because Papon's goal against the Maldives was a relief victory to relieve the pressure.
But the 24-year-old midfielder is not a regular in the national team. In 2021, he was first noticed by English coach Jamie Der. Then Javier's graves gave way last year. He got the desired goal in the third match of his career against Maldives in a FIFA friendly match. Just what? Papon has yet to have the fortune of playing in the starting XI. He came last in all three matches. In the 86th minute against the Maldives, he got a chance to get off and showed his strength. After such a victory, Papon's elation was undiminished. He told Bangla Tribune on the phone, 'I was confident that I can score if I get a chance. When that opportunity came, I didn't think about the other side. Even though there is a defender in front, I have done the placement like a place. There is unbridled joy in everyone.'
Sohail Rana and others are regulars in the positions that Papon plays. So the midfielder of Abahani Limited from North Baridhara got a place in the national team but spent most of the time warming the side bench. There was another reason to go to the family after such a win on the night. The club has two days off before returning to training. So Papon wants to spend time with his family, 'everyone on the field is happy to see the game. And the whole family watched on television. All the villagers including my mother and wife are happy. I came to the village house to share the happiness. Now it seems my double joy.'
Even in the first match, Bangladesh did not get a goal despite attacking the moment. On the contrary, the match was lost. So in tomorrow's match, everyone had to win the match to prove that Bangladesh is not such a bad team. Before bringing Papon down, coach Javier Cabrera also gives tips – what to do. In Papon's words, 'We played so well in the first match, we didn't get a goal. That's why I had to lose. In the second match, everyone's insistence was suppressed – no matter what, the goal must be scored. We have to win the match to prove that we are not such a bad team. The winning goal was so necessary. To be able to play like a good team.'
As a midfielder standing in the box with perfect placement the goal is missed by many strikers. Papon is an exception in that place. How is it possible? Papon replied with a smile on the other end of the phone, 'Actually my job was to run from the midfield to the forward position. Taking place properly. When Shahriar was raising Eamon's cross, I got the ball in space and had a placing shot on target before the defender could do anything. There is joy all around. I am also bursting with joy.'
At the end of the match, Rakib-Tapura greeted Papon by lifting him on his shoulder or in his lap. Papon was very happy to receive the greeting of scoring the first goal for the national team, 'Look, there was a lot of pressure on us. We lost the previous match at home. No matter what happens now, it will not be lost. So I scored when I got the chance. I scored like this in practice. All teammates want to win. The joy is different because it was in my goal. So everyone was celebrating with me.'
Maldives took the lead in the 23rd minute. Mojibur Rahman came on as a substitute and equalized with a great goal. Another substitute Papon came in late on and changed the scene. Even after that, Papan's grief is that he could not be a regular in the national team's eleven. Despite playing almost regularly in Abahani, the red-green team had to have a lot of bratya. Papon thinks, maybe luck will open after this goal, 'I think I will get more opportunities to play in the future. The coach called me Weldon at the end of the match. Everyone appreciated. Now surely I will be considered for the XI in the next matches.'
