Bangladesh footballer Shuki Itofusa said fulfilling his childhood dream of playing for the national team has motivated him to improve further as a footballer.
The Japan raised winger made his Bangladesh debut against Malaysia on Friday. Speaking on Saturday, Itofusa said wearing the national colours was something he had dreamed about.
“It was my dream from childhood to wear the national team jersey and play in it. I am very happy that I could make that dream come true,” Itofusa said.
However, he feels there is still plenty of room for improvement.
“There are still some areas where I need to improve. I want to work hard on my fitness and condition. I also want to contribute more to the team by scoring goals or providing assists,” he said.
Itofusa admitted he did not expect to make his debut in the first match but was ready when the opportunity arrived.
“I never really thought I would make my debut yesterday, but I was ready to fight for the country,” he said.
Language has been another challenge for Itofusa, who mainly speaks Japanese. He said his teammates use English and simple gestures to communicate with him and have helped him settle into the squad.
“Some teammates always look after me and talk to me. I can communicate with them to a certain level now. I am enjoying the time and there are no problems,” he said.
Itofusa has also spent a long period away from his family to pursue his football career. He said the sacrifice is part of a shared dream.
“If I can succeed while staying away from my family, it will bring happiness to my family and many other people. So I don’t think being away from them is a problem,” he said.
