More players line up to follow Hamza’s path into Bangladesh football

Will Bangladesh football see more expatriate footballers who are eager to wear the green and red jersey? This question is surfacing around Bangladesh's football arena as many are trying to follow the path of English League player Hamza Choudhury.

The recent debut of Sheffield United midfielder Hamza for Bangladesh has sparked a surge of interest among expatriate footballers eager to represent the national team.

According to Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Vice President Fahad Karim, 32 Bangladeshi-origin players from 13 countries have formally expressed interest in donning the Bangladesh jersey.

Among the most notable names are England-based Karim Hassan Smith, Ilman Matin, and Ashiqur Rahman; France's Farhan Mahmud; Canada's Nabid Ahmed; and US-based Amir Sami.

One standout is Canadian midfielder Samit Som, who has previously played for Canada's youth and senior teams. The BFF is keen to include him in the national team, pending FIFA clearance.

To streamline the selection process, the BFF is set to host a three-day trial in Dhaka starting June 25, primarily aimed at strengthening youth squads.

The initiative is supported by Sakib Mahmud, a Denmark-based volunteer who has helped identify eligible players, many through social media.

While five players have already arrived in Bangladesh for youth team trials, Samit remains the only one currently being considered for the senior squad.

The BFF hopes to finalise his inclusion before the June 10 Asian Cup qualifier against Singapore in Dhaka.