Shanto dreams of playing with Hamza, Shamit

Young Mohammedan defender Md Zohid Hasan Shanto has expressed his excitement at the prospect of playing alongside star midfielders Hamza Choudhury and Shamit Shome for the Bangladesh national team, describing it as “thrilling.” His comments come after being named in the 26-man preliminary squad for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Singapore.

Shanto, a key figure in Mohammedan’s historic Bangladesh Premier League championship win this season, returns to Javier Cabrera’s national team plans after a controversial omission earlier this year.

The 5-foot-9-inch defender, who made his Mohammedan debut in the 2022-23 Bangladesh Premier League season, has been in scintillating form throughout the current campaign, earning him a recall. Shanto, who has experience with the national U-20 and U-23 Asian Cup qualifying teams, shared his journey into football and his aspirations in a recent interview. 

When asked about his inclusion in the current preliminary squad for the Singapore match, Shanto revealed he wasn’t directly informed. “No one told me I was in the squad,” he said. “I saw it on social media and in the news. On Thursday, I received a letter from BFF [Bangladesh Football Federation] to join the camp.” 

The prospect of lining up alongside the likes of Hamza Choudhury and Shamit Shome clearly excites the young defender. “Playing with footballers like them, sharing a dressing room, is a huge deal,” Shanto mused. “I imagine many things, but let’s see what happens in reality.” When pressed on the idea of making his debut alongside such established players in a crucial match against Singapore, Shanto reiterated his enthusiasm. “Absolutely. If I get the opportunity to play with players like Hamza and Shamit, it will be thrilling for me.”

Upon receiving the good news, Shanto’s first calls were to his brother, then his parents, followed by his mentors.

Reflecting on his previous omission from the squad for the India match, Shanto admitted to some disappointment. “It was my first call-up. It would have been nice to train with everyone. I was a bit upset, but I consoled myself by thinking that maybe I was called to be encouraged. If it’s in my destiny, I’ll get another call-up in the future.”

This time, Shanto had a more tempered expectation. “I was waiting to see what would happen! I’d say my expectation of getting a call-up was fifty-fifty.”

With the final 23-man squad set to be announced after the match against Bhutan, Shanto remains optimistic about his chances. “Of course, I’ll be hopeful. My goal will be to train according to the coach’s instructions so I can be in the 23-man squad. And if I get a place in the 23-man squad and an opportunity to play, I will work as hard as possible to maintain my spot.”