ILeague
Bangladesh football skipper Jamal Bhuyan keen to play his part to help Md Sporting win the Hero I-League
Kolkata, Nov 9 (UNI) Bangladesh National Team had faced off against India in Kolkata in 2019, where the two teams walked off with a point apiece (with a 1-1 scoreline).
A little over a year later, the man who had led Bangladesh out onto the turf at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Jamal Bhuyan, is all set to return to the City of Joy, albeit, with completely different intentions, the All India Football Federation said Monday.
Newly promoted Hero I-League side Mohammedan SC have named Jamal as one of their latest signings ahead of the new campaign.
“An offer from the Hero I-League is very good for me. So when Mohammedan Sporting approached me I asked around to know more about their rich history,” Jamal said.
“They just earned promotion and now want to win the League. I felt that that is the kind of intent I want to play with, and that I can make an impact there. Looking forward to playing at Mohammedan.”
The Bangladesh captain has enjoyed a healthy rivalry with the Blue Tigers in International football, and boasts of a record where he was never lost to India on the three occasions when he played against his neighbouring country.
Jamal feels a special motivation when it comes to playing against India on the International area.
“It’s always special to play against India, because India is like an elder brother to Bangladesh.
"And you always want to beat your elder brother when you play against him,” the Bangladesh captain laughed.
Looking back at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Joint Qualifier that was played in Kolkata last year,Jamal informed that the entire team was charged up ahead of the game.
“That day I sensed a different atmosphere in our camp when I woke up. Everybody wanted to do well against India.
"Right from the morning we were cheering each other up, tellingeveryone to pick up the essentials, do our morning stretches properly and be ready for the game. This match meant a lot to us,” he recalled.
“In the stadium, the galleries were already full by the time we had come in for our pre-game warmups.
That’s when we felt that this is going to be a really good game. The crowd was amazing.”
The holding midfielder had played a crucial role for Bangladesh against the Blue Tiger in the game.
While he was carrying out his duties in the heart of the midfield, Jamal also had the added task of marking his Indian counterpart and talismanic forward Sunil Chhetri.
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