Childhood memories bring Hamza home

On March 25, Bangladesh will face India in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers in Shillong. To participate in this crucial match, Hamza Choudhury, who plays in the English Premier League, is flying from England to Bangladesh on March 17. His arrival has created excitement in the country's football scene, and his ancestral village, Snanghat in Bahubal Upazila, Habiganj, is in a festive mood.

On March 16, sports journalist M.M. Masuk interviewed Hamza’s father, Dewan Golam Morshed Choudhury, at their home in Snanghat. In this conversation, he shared memories of Hamza’s childhood, thoughts on the upcoming match against India, and more. Here are some key excerpts from the interview:

Views Bangladesh: You are currently staying at home?

Golam Morshed: Yes, I came to Bangladesh in February. Every year in February, we have a traditional religious gathering at our home, which has been going on for generations. That’s why I come to Bangladesh every year. There’s a lot of preparation involved. This time, I didn’t return to England because Hamza is coming, so I decided to stay.

Views Bangladesh: How many times has Hamza visited Bangladesh?

Golam Morshed: Many times—I can't even count. I used to bring him every year, sometimes once, sometimes twice a year. The last time he visited was in 2014.

Views Bangladesh: Can you tell us about Hamza’s journey to becoming a footballer?

Golam Morshed: He started playing football when he was just five years old. At that time, we lived in Loughborough, England. He was always energetic and good at sports. Many clubs noticed him—Nottingham, Leicester City, and Derby County all showed interest in him. Since Leicester City was closer to us, he joined them.

Views Bangladesh: As parents, did you always want Hamza to become a footballer?

Golam Morshed: No, we didn’t send him to play with the goal of making him a footballer. All my children played sports. I have three sons and one daughter. They all play different sports—football, cricket, badminton, archery. Hamza is the eldest. My daughter is in the final year of medical school. My children are all Bengali, Muslim, and love sports, but they also follow their religious practices strictly. I made sure they all studied Arabic and went to madrasa, including Hamza. Among them, Hamza speaks Bengali the best, though it's Sylheti Bengali. That’s because he has visited and stayed here the most. He played in the fields, roamed around in the villages. Whenever I brought him, we would stay for three to six months.

Views Bangladesh: What is different about this visit compared to his previous ones?

Golam Morshed: Of course, there is a big difference. Before, he was not a Premier League footballer. When he started playing in the Premier League, I wanted to bring him to Bangladesh, but due to security concerns, we couldn’t. This time, he is coming as part of an official process to play for Bangladesh. That’s why there is so much excitement and enthusiasm. People in Bangladesh were already his fans because of his football career. In England, people also admire him. The English are passionate about football and love their players. This time, he is coming with a special purpose—to play for Bangladesh against India. If he helps Bangladesh secure a victory, it will be a big achievement. Everyone is hoping that with Hamza on the team, Bangladesh can defeat India.

Views Bangladesh: How are people reacting to Hamza’s arrival?

Golam Morshed:  I don’t go out much, only visit relatives. But many people are coming to meet me. Everyone is very excited and happy. Words can’t express how much joy people feel.

Views Bangladesh: Are you satisfied with the security arrangements for Hamza?

Golam Morshed: Yes, there will be strict security and protocol. The police are monitoring everything and will be present at all times. However, he won’t stay at home for long—just one night—before flying to Dhaka. He usually prefers traveling by road, but the roads aren’t in great condition. He even asked me if he could take the train.

Views Bangladesh: What preparations have been made at your village home for Hamza’s visit?

Golam Morshed: We have made family arrangements. His wife is also coming, so we are preparing for that. The decorations, the gate—all of this is because his wife is coming. She is Muslim but English. They have three children—two sons and a daughter. Their daughter is the eldest, around seven years old. The older son, who is four or five, is already playing football and is quite good.

Views Bangladesh: Who first encouraged Hamza to play for Bangladesh?

Golam Morshed: Many people from Bangladesh reached out to him, saying, “Hamza bhai, come and play for Bangladesh.” But the main reason is his childhood memories. Since I brought him here often, he played football in the fields, in the haor (wetlands), and bonded with the local people. He loves Bangladesh and feels a deep connection to his ancestral home. He often says he misses this place. When we once lived in a rented house in Habiganj town, my children asked, “Why did you bring us here? This is not Bangladesh.” So, we left that house and came back to our ancestral home in Snanghat. He used to swim in the pond, play in the mud—it was a sense of freedom. No one ever stopped him; everyone loved him.

Views Bangladesh: Hamza grew up playing football in England. Do you think he will be able to adapt to Bangladesh’s playing style?

Golam Morshed: He believes he can. He told me, “There won’t be any problems.” Since he has visited Bangladesh so many times, he has developed an emotional attachment. He also followed Bangladeshi media coverage of him, which I used to read out to him. He would always say, “Insha’Allah, one day I will play for Bangladesh.”

Views Bangladesh: Who encouraged him more—you or his mother?

Golam Morshed: It wasn’t about encouragement. His mother is British, and naturally, she wouldn’t have thought about Bangladesh football. But because of her marriage to me, she developed an attachment to Bangladesh. I always spoke about Bangladesh at home, so Hamza grew up hearing about it, which created his interest. Even my wife sees our home in Snanghat as her Bangladesh.

Views Bangladesh: Will you watch Hamza’s match from the stadium?

Golam Morshed: Yes, I will go to Dhaka with Hamza and watch the match from the stadium. My wife, my other sons, my brother, and his wife will all go together. We will confirm the tickets soon.