Since last March, a new wave has swept through Bangladeshi football. With players like Hamza Choudhury, Shamit Shome, and Fahamedul Islam returning home, fans have begun dreaming of a brighter future for the national team. Yet, despite rising expectations, success has remained elusive. Victory often slips away at the last moment—and the mistakes causing these setbacks are largely being made by local players, particularly in the defensive line. Recently, several defenders have come under criticism for their errors.

The most recent example came last Thursday at the National Stadium against Nepal. Bangladesh was on the verge of victory, with Hamza Chowdhury netting a brace, but had to settle for a 2–2 draw after conceding a last-minute goal. The first goal scored by Nepal also stemmed from defensive mistakes, raising questions about why local players struggle to match the level of their foreign-based teammates.

When asked about this before Saturday’s training, Canadian-based midfielder Shamit Shome downplayed the issue. He said, 

“We never think about foreigners versus local players. Our team is eleven players, and it doesn’t matter who is from abroad or who is local. What matters is that we stay united and focus on winning the match together. At the end of the day, we learn from experience. We never think in terms of foreigners versus locals—it’s just not how we approach it.”

Despite playing four matches for Bangladesh, Shome is yet to taste victory. He is hopeful of breaking that streak in the upcoming Asian Cup qualifier against India at the National Stadium on 18 November. 

“I hope we can win this Tuesday's match. I really enjoy coming to Bangladesh, competing, and playing alongside my teammates. Representing Bangladesh is a great feeling. If we win, it will make everything even better and reinforce that we are on the right track. I hope the winning celebration will be complete this time.”

Bangladesh has not beaten India in over 22 years. Asked about optimism for this long-awaited clash and the recurring issue of conceding late goals, Shome emphasized the importance of preparation and focus. 

“This is a big match against India, and we must win. Hopefully, this game will help set up Bangladesh for a better future. Conceding goals at the last minute is painful—for the players, the fans, and everyone involved. We are working hard to prevent these moments. We aim to perform at our best from zero to ninety minutes, including extra time, and hopefully, this problem won’t happen again. Then we can finally win the match.”