From Bamboo Shack to National Stage: The Inspiring Rise of Footballer Sajjad Hossain
Photo Collected
PATIYA, BANGLADESH – Sajjad Hossain, a professional footballer who climbed from the depths of extreme poverty to represent the Bangladesh national team, has transformed his life and that of his family through sheer perseverance. Once raised in a dilapidated shanty with bamboo walls and a rusted corrugated iron roof in Dakshin Govindarkhil, Sajjad now resides in a modern two-story house, a testament to his successful career on the pitch.
Sajjad’s journey began in a two-room shack in Patiya, where rain often leaked through the ceiling, forcing his family to crowd into a single room. His late father, Kabir Ahmed, was a day laborer whose meager income often failed to cover the family’s basic needs. Despite the constant struggle for food and the lack of proper training facilities, Sajjad nurtured a dream of playing football.
The 31-year-old athlete’s professional ascent was marked by significant milestones, including his debut for the national team in a 2022 friendly match against Indonesia. Before reaching the national stage, he played for Saif Sporting Club in the Bangladesh Premier League during the 2021-22 season. He is currently signed with Dhaka’s Rahmatganj MFS.
Sajjad’s football career gained momentum when he was selected among five players out of 150 during a scouting program organized by the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP) in 2012. His talent eventually caught the attention of manager Arman Aziz during a match against Chittagong Abahani, leading to a contract with Saif Sporting Club in 2016. National team captain Jamal Bhuiyan, who played alongside Sajjad for five years at Saif Sporting Club, described him as a dedicated player who consistently gives his best effort on the field.
The transition from a struggling youth to a national-level player was fraught with obstacles. Sajjad often had to balance his education and football with menial labor to support his family. He recalls the early discouragement from neighbors who believed football offered no viable future. However, support from mentors, including local community figures and the late ATM Muhibullah Chowdhury, provided him the necessary encouragement to continue his training despite financial instability.
Following his father’s death in 2017, Sajjad became the primary breadwinner, using his earnings to build a 3.5 million taka home and help his younger brother establish a business. He credits his mother’s unwavering faith for his success, noting that she encouraged him even when family circumstances looked bleak.
Reflecting on his journey, Sajjad remains driven by a philosophy of persistence. “If you cannot fly, then you must run; if you cannot run, you must walk; if you cannot walk, you must crawl,” Sajjad said, sitting in his home, surrounded by the trophies and jerseys that symbolize his escape from poverty. “But you must never stop.”
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