Hamza Choudhury arrived in Dhaka on Monday (November 10) afternoon to play two friendly matches during the November international window. On Tuesday morning, he officially joined as an ambassador for one of the country’s largest mobile operators, Robi Axiata. While speaking to the media, the British-Bangladeshi footballer shared his thoughts on the development of football in Bangladesh.
For most professional footballers, earning money is often the main goal. Many of them also become brand ambassadors or engage in social causes. However, Hamza is different — for him, love for the country and its development outweigh financial gain.
The English Premier League star said that his motivation to play for Bangladesh comes not from financial incentives, but from a deep sense of responsibility toward his country. He stated, “I don’t think about money separately. What matters to me is love for my country and how I can help improve its situation. Contributing to that progress within my ability is one of the main reasons I chose to play for Bangladesh. I have many childhood memories connected with this country, and I truly enjoy coming here — especially to inspire the young generation to play football.”
Having played in one of the world’s most competitive leagues, the English Premier League, Hamza brings invaluable experience to Bangladesh — a team ranked over 180th in the FIFA rankings. Since donning the Bangladesh jersey, he has received overwhelming love from fans, something that makes him happy and gives him the desire to make his parents proud.
Hamza said, “I just want to be proud of being part of this country and to represent it in any way I can — especially for my parents. Every child wants to make their parents proud, and I feel blessed that I can make an entire nation proud. I truly cherish the love I receive here. Whenever I leave Bangladesh, my kids tell me they want to come back. So, Inshallah, they will return again in March.”
Currently, Hamza and Samit are among the key players for the Bangladesh national team. Hamza is highly optimistic about the future of Bangladeshi football. He said, “We’ll see many talented players rising not only from abroad but also from within the country. Inshallah, someday they might even play in Europe. Together, as a nation, we can move forward. If we all work hard, we can make football in Bangladesh bigger and better and achieve great progress.”
Bangladesh will face Nepal in a friendly match on November 13 and then take on India in the Asian Cup Qualifiers on November 18. Confident about both games, Hamza said, “Inshallah, I have two matches ahead. So right now, my full focus is on those games.”
