‘We had lots of problems outside, but inside we fight’

A historic domestic treble demands a touch of magic, and for Bashundhara Kings, that magic was named Dorielton Gomes Nascimento. When internal turmoil saw the club's other foreign recruits out of the team, the Brazilian striker single-handedly shouldered the attacking burden. Blistering his way to 18 league goals and a 12-goal Federation Cup masterclass capped by a devastating final hat-trick against Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited, the veteran proved invincible. The undisputed talisman sat down with the Daily Sun to reflect on his extraordinary campaign. Below are the excerpts:

Daily Sun: Scoring a hat-trick against a resilient side like Mohammedan SC in such a high-stakes match is not easy. How did you approach this challenge?

Dorielton: I can score hat-trick but it is not easy, you know. Mohammedan, they have a good team. They play very good and hard. That’s why I like how Mohammedan play, you know. But here is my home. This here is our home. That’s why you have to win here.

Daily Sun: When the team falls behind during a crucial match, how do you manage that pressure and rally the squad to stage a comeback?

Dorielton: Brother, you know I'm not captain here, but I'm a leader. I'm older one here, 33. Thirty-three, you understand? I have to give my experience for the players, especially for youngers, for juniors. And when you go inside, I say guys, the game is not the start for us. We have to go now, come back, and do different things in the second half. And this is Bashundhara Kings, you know. We play hundred times like that. Congratulations to us.

Daily Sun: It has been an incredibly demanding season for the club, marked by numerous off-pitch issues. Yet, you continually stepped up when the team needed you most. How did you maintain that level of focus?

Dorielton: We have lots of problems outside. I don't want to say what. But we have lots of problems. But you know I say to the players, guys, inside the pitch it is different. You have to play for us, for your family, your club, and have to fight to take the trophy. It's very important for us, this season is too long, you understand. You have to come here to do something. I understand we have lots of problems outside the pitch. But you have to fight inside. This is what I say.

Daily Sun: How would you evaluate your own individual performance throughout this campaign?

Dorielton: My friend, it's not, I don't play alone.

Daily Sun: While it is certainly a team effort, you consistently deliver the decisive goals for Bashundhara Kings. Beyond Wednesday’s hat-trick, you frequently step into the role of match-winner. What is the secret behind this consistency?

Dorielton: Because I do my best every day. I do extra (workout, practice). I have some good staff behind me, you know. I have Brazilian physiotherapist. I have Brazilian doctor. I have Brazilian personal trainer. I have everything. That’s why I have good performance to do my best.

Daily Sun: Do your support staff reside here in Dhaka with you?

Dorielton: No, they stay in Brazil. But every day after training I call them. Back home, I call them. I show them my performance and all staff, they give me something to help, you understand? That's it.

Daily Sun: This marks the second time Bashundhara Kings have secured the domestic treble. How does it feel to achieve such a historic milestone?

Dorielton: I'm very happy. I said before, the season is too long, you know. And when I come to Bangladesh, I have some objective. First one to be champion, and second one like top-scorer. And I get everything this season. I'm very happy.

Daily Sun: Does playing alongside energetic forwards like Rakib Hossain and Foysal Ahmed Fahim make your job in the final third easier?

Dorielton: These are my two guys. Fahim... I respect everyone here. But Fahim, Emon (Shahriar), and Rakib. If I don't have these three support in attack, you know, I cannot score a lot of goals. And that’s why I have to say thank you for these three guys because they run for me.

Daily Sun: Would you consider this your finest season since arriving in Bangladesh?

Dorielton: No, I don't want to say, I don't want to say this is the best one. But a special one.

Daily Sun: What makes this season uniquely special compared to your previous campaigns?

Dorielton: For any foreigners here playing is so tough job. They (Bashundhara) have only me. Because before they have many foreigners, now I play like alone.

Daily Sun: Given your commanding performance Wednesday, would it be fair to label this match the "Dori Show"?

Dorielton: No, it's not Dori show. Its Bashundhara (Kings) show. I don't play alone. I just try to do my best, I score hat-trick, but the players they help me a lot.