Hamza Choudhury’s father Dewan Choudhury was reduced to tears in a documentary released by Leicester City on 4 June, overwhelmed by the adulation his son has received since committing his international future to Bangladesh fifteen months ago.
The film weaves together footage of the frenzy surrounding Hamza in Bangladesh, training sessions, home matches, and candid conversations with his parents, offering a rare and intimate glimpse into the man behind the phenomenon.
“I cannot hold back my tears,” Dewan says in the documentary. “My son is playing for Bangladesh. I am very proud. Bangladesh football had been in a bad state for a long time. Because of Hamza, the tide has turned.”
His mother is equally moved. Hamza’s face now appears in television commercials and promotional campaigns across Bangladesh, a level of celebrity that has left both parents openly emotional.
Hamza himself reflects on the night that crystallised everything for him. In November 2025, Bangladesh faced India in an AFC Asian Cup qualifier at the National Stadium in Dhaka. Standing on the pitch for the national anthem before kick-off, the experienced defensive midfielder felt the weight of the occasion in full.
“It felt a little surreal,” he recalls. “During the anthem, so many memories came flooding back in an instant. There is so much I cherish about Bangladesh. That India match in particular stands out. Our body language that night was something different.”
Bangladesh won that match 1-0, ending a 22-year wait for a victory over their neighbours. It remains one of the most celebrated results in the country’s football history.
The documentary also revisits Hamza’s stunning bicycle kick against Nepal in a friendly at the National Stadium in November 2025, a goal that sent the nation into raptures. Asked whether it ranks as the best of his career, he does not hesitate.
“I did not know what was coming at me. Then I thought, why not. It really was something special. That goal is the best I have ever scored. After the match, I saw some reactions in our family group chat and it made me laugh so much. I thought they were going absolutely mad.”
Hamza made his Bangladesh debut in Shillong against India in an AFC Asian Cup qualifier, a match that ended goalless but announced his arrival emphatically. In nine appearances for Bangladesh since, he has scored four goals and provided one assist. His rise from new signing to national icon has been remarkably swift.
With Bangladesh hosting San Marino in a friendly on the evening of 5 June, millions of supporters across the country will once again have their eyes fixed on the player who has given their football a new sense of belief.
