Hamza Choudhury gave his post-match thoughts on the pitch at Kai Tak Stadium on 14 October, reflecting on Bangladesh’s 1-1 draw with Hong Kong in the third round of the Asian Cup Qualifiers. The England-born defensive midfielder praised the atmosphere and facilities but admitted that the result left him with mixed feelings.
Bangladesh had fallen behind in the first half to Matt Orr’s penalty before Rakib Hossain’s late strike rescued a point for Javier Cabrera’s side. Though the draw away from home offered some relief, Hamza confessed that the inability to secure a win in four qualifying matches was disappointing.
“This is what football should be, especially in Asia, where you want to see packed stadiums,” Hamza said. “Hopefully, the game will continue to grow and earn its place on the global stage. I want to thank the Hong Kong fans for their incredible support and, of course, the Bangladesh supporters who travelled here. We’ve built a base to improve, but at the end of the day, there’s still some disappointment for not winning.”
The stands at Kai Tak were a sea of red, with over forty thousand fans creating an electric atmosphere. Hamza praised the conditions and crowd engagement, saying it ranked among the best experiences of his career.
“It was brilliant, truly top-class,” he said. “I’ve played in England, but this stadium is right up there with the best. The energy from the fans behind the goalposts was unbelievable; you could really feel their passion.”
