Bangladesh’s SAFF Championship squad received a fresh boost on Monday as Hamza Choudhury joined his teammates in training just hours after arriving in Dhaka.
The Sheffield United midfielder landed in the capital in the morning. He met his teammates at the hotel, had breakfast with them and took a short rest before heading to the ABG Sports Complex in the afternoon.
Hamza joined the training session as Bangladesh prepared for their final Group A match against Sri Lanka on Wednesday.
The midfielder arrived at the ground a little later than the others. He quickly made his way to the training area and joined his teammates. After warming up, Hamza worked alongside Mohammad Ibrahim during a training drill.
Bangladesh have already reached the semifinals following Bhutan’s 2-2 draw with Sri Lanka on Sunday. Hamza will now have the chance to make his SAFF Championship debut without the pressure of securing qualification.
Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) executive committee member Imtiaz Hamid Sabuj believes Hamza’s arrival has given the players fresh energy.
“Of course, Hamza is a very important player for us. His arrival has made every player in the team more motivated,” Sabuj said.
He also described how Hamza spent time with his teammates soon after reaching the hotel.
“As soon as he entered the hotel, he went to the dining area. Everyone was having breakfast at the time. He met everyone and sat down to eat with them. I think his addition is very important for us.”
Sabuj said the players had been waiting for Hamza to join the squad. He also praised the midfielder’s commitment to Bangladesh.
“The players were also waiting for Hamza to arrive. You know he plays with responsibility and gives everything he can,” he said.
“His presence in training shows what he wants to achieve and what he wants to give to the people of the country.”
Meanwhile, another of Bangladesh’s expatriate players, Farhaan Ali Wahid, arrived in Dhaka last night and is set to join the squad’s training session today.
The hosts are hoping to win their first SAFF Championship title since 2003.
