Anisur Rahman Zico, the goalkeeper for Bangladesh, was pleasantly delighted to learn that he had received the title for best goalie in the just-concluded SAFF Championship, despite the fact that his side did not advance to the semifinals of the competition.
However, the goalkeeper for the Bashundhara Kings, who played exceptionally well throughout the entire eight-team competition and helped Bangladesh reach the final four of the regional competition for the first time in 14 years, stated that he was confident that he would have won the award had Bangladesh been able to make it all the way to the championship game of the competition.
Zico told The Daily Star over the phone yesterday night that he would have won the trophy if Bangladesh were in the final game. “The other day, I was telling someone I would win the trophy if Bangladesh were in the final,” Zico said.
However, I was informed that I would be receiving the award on Tuesday evening. It made me feel absolutely great about myself. Ever since I began competing at the highest level, I have held onto the hope that I would one day be regarded as the most accomplished player in this part of the world. Zico, who idolizes famous goalkeepers like Manuel Neuer and Emiliano Martinez, stated, “I have always looked up to Aminul (Haque) bhai and always wanted to be the best like he is.”
Zico produced a number of amazing saves as Bangladesh carried the semifinal match against Kuwait far into extra time. Despite Zico’s heroics, Bangladesh ultimately fell to Kuwait by a single goal just as extra time was about to end. Zico, who has made innumerable saves from the penalty spot in domestic football, was of the opinion that he could have led Bangladesh to the final had the match gone to penalties.
The guy from Cox’s Bazar stated, “I have made quite a few saves from penalties in domestic football.” He was referring to games played in Bangladesh. Therefore, I went into the game with the mindset that I could stop two or three shots in a shootout, should that scenario play out.
In recent times, the form and fitness of the goalie, who is 25 years old, have come under fire, particularly on social media. Some of the criticism has focused on social media. It would seem that all of Zico’s detractors have been quiet as a result of his performance and the honour, at least for the time being. However, the top player for Bangladesh is not sidetracked by such critiques since he has said that his goal is to promote Bangladesh to a greater level.
I’ve always hoped that Bangladesh will one day be crowned champion of the SAFF. It didn’t work out this time, but I have high hopes that we’ll be able to compete in the championship game the next time around,” Zico continued.
However, despite receiving a great deal of appreciation from everyone for their courageous effort, the Bangladesh squad did not receive the applause that they deserved. To make circumstances even more difficult for them, they were not given the chance to say goodbye or hello to Martinez at the airport on Sunday before the Argentine’s flight to Kolkata.
Zico came to this conclusion after saying, “I don’t know what the issues regarding this are, but being football players and not having the chance to talk with such a goalkeeper as Emiliano is certainly a matter of regret.”