Hamza ready to captain Bangladesh if asked, but wants seniors to lead

Bangladesh midfielder Hamza Chowdhury has said he is ready to take on the captaincy if offered the role, but he does not want to stake a claim for it himself. He was speaking to the media at training ahead of the SAFF Championship match against Sri Lanka.

“If the coach wants me to captain, I will definitely do it. But there are many players in the team more experienced than me, who have played nearly 100 matches for Bangladesh. I think their experience is the most important thing,” Hamza said.

Although he has played for Bangladesh for only a short time so far, the midfielder said he fully understands the importance of the team’s senior players. To him, team unity and mutual understanding matter more than the captaincy.

Expressing satisfaction with the dressing-room atmosphere, Hamza said, “Everyone in the dressing room is united towards the same goal, and the whole team feels like a family, which is the biggest thing. Whatever the team decides, that is final.”

Hamza himself enjoys the love and excitement of the supporters, but he wants to repay that affection with his performances on the pitch.

In his view, interest in Bangladesh football has grown not only because of him, but because several expatriate footballers have joined the national team together.

Asked which team are favourites in the SAFF Championship, Hamza did not have to think long. The Bangladesh midfielder believes his own team are ahead in the title race.

Hamza added that his confidence is not just talk; it rests on the ability of his teammates and their recent performances.

Expressing hope for the SAFF title, Hamza said, Inshallah, Bangladesh will become SAFF champions.

Alongside making his position on the captaincy clear, Hamza repeatedly underlined the team’s unity and its aim of winning the title.