Sports Desk:

Bangladesh midfielder Hamza Choudhury spoke confidently on Tuesday afternoon at the Dhaka National Stadium, saying the team is fully prepared to face Hong Kong, China in their AFC Asian Cup Qualifier on Thursday. Despite injury concerns and mixed results in the earlier fixtures, Hamza believes Bangladesh can secure a positive result through collective effort rather than relying on individual brilliance.

Bangladesh currently sit third in Group C with one point from two matches, following a 2-1 defeat to Singapore and a goalless draw with India. Hong Kong, meanwhile, are second with four points after defeating India 1-0 and drawing with Singapore.

Arriving at training in a relaxed mood, Hamza greeted the media with a smile before speaking about his growing connection with the squad. “This is my third time coming to Bangladesh. I feel more comfortable now with the coach and my teammates. InshaAllah, we will win,” he said.

Asked about the team’s chances against Hong Kong, the Leicester City midfielder replied with quiet confidence. “The potential is there. The team has talent and aggression. Everyone is working extremely hard. If we keep our confidence, InshaAllah we will get the result we want.”

Hamza pointed out that while playing for club and country are different experiences, the pride of representing Bangladesh is special. “Pressure exists everywhere. But our national team is young, and with more experience, we’ll improve further,” he said.

Bangladesh’s preparations have been hampered by injuries, with Al Amin and Topu Barman both doubtful, while Sumon Reza and Mohammad Ibrahim have already withdrawn from camp. Still, Hamza remains optimistic. “Injuries are part of football. Every match is a new challenge, but I’m confident in the players we have,” he stated.

Reflecting on the 2-1 loss to Singapore, Hamza dismissed suggestions that the team’s tactics failed. “I don’t think our plan went wrong. We just had a few moments where we could have defended better. Maybe we could have avoided the goals. Football doesn’t always go your way,” he said.

When asked about fan expectations and comparisons to Lionel Messi, Hamza smiled and gave a grounded response. “Football is a team game. Even if Messi played for Bangladesh, we’d still have to work on our tactics and fix our problems. One player cannot change everything, at least not me. Everyone must stay united, that is how we move forward.”

As Bangladesh prepare for their home match against Hong Kong, Hamza’s message remains clear: the road to success lies not in star names, but in teamwork, discipline and belief.