'I want Farhaan to make his own name big': Jamal full of praise for youngster

Detailed summary

Jamal Bhuyan believes Farhaan Ali Wahid's stunning solo effort against Sri Lanka was among the finest goals he had witnessed at the National Stadium, but the former Bangladesh…

Jamal Bhuyan believes Farhaan Ali Wahid's stunning solo effort against Sri Lanka was among the finest goals he had witnessed at the National Stadium, but the former Bangladesh captain wants the young forward to build his own identity rather than be compared with global stars.

Farhaan produced a moment of individual brilliance in Bangladesh's 4-0 victory over Sri Lanka in their final Group A match of the SAFF Championship on Wednesday, cutting in from the flank and dribbling past several defenders before finding the net.

The goal drew comparisons with the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Lamine Yamal. Jamal, however, felt such comparisons could overshadow the youngster's own qualities.

“Probably one of the best goals in the National Stadium that I've seen. I think Hamza's bicycle kick and the goal Farhaan scored yesterday -- I think it must be in the top three,” Jamal told reporters before Bangladesh's training session on Thursday.

“So you guys are saying it yourselves -- Neymar, Messi, Lamine Yamal. Actually, I want Farhaan to build his own profile. He shouldn't be compared to other players, because fans in Bangladesh always say 'my Messi', 'my Lamine Yamal'. But I want him to make his own name big. So this is Farhaan's goal -- not another player's goal, it's Farhaan’s goal,” he added.

Jamal was equally delighted with Hamza Choudhury's performance against Sri Lanka. The Sheffield United player wore the captain's armband for the first time and also found the net as Bangladesh secured top spot in Group A and a semifinal date with Pakistan.

“Hamza deserves it. He played well, and Hamza is probably the greatest player of Bangladesh. So of course, he is the biggest star, he is the best player in the team, and I'm so happy for Hamza,” Jamal said.

Jamal also stressed the importance of the entire squad following a demanding schedule, with Bangladesh playing two matches within three days.

Opening of the article, excerpted from The Daily Star. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.