All the little heroes, who emerged unbeaten champions of the SAFF Under-16 Football competition in Sylhet two days back, are dreaming to be a big footballer to represent the nation in future. The team returned to Dhaka in the early hours of Thursday (around 1.30 am) after a long journey by bus from Sylhet BKSP. It surprised the football fans that not a single high official or member of Bangladesh Football Federation was present at the BFF Bhaban at Motijheel to receive the footballers. However, the BFF staffs received the team and offered them sweets.
Mohammed Shawon, Atiquzzaman, Shaun Hossain, Sarwar Zaman Nipu, Khalil, Emon, Sajib- all the boys are excited after winning the SAFF trophy and want to build up their career as a successful footballer and to bring success for the nation in future.
Syed Golam Jilani, coach of the Under-16 football team, under whose 20-day guidance Bangladesh clinched the title, also said that in his short time observation and working with these boys, he found  some natural talents.
Jilani, while talking to The Independent yesterday at the BFF Bhaban said, “Really I am happy that despite having a short period coaching, the boys did a great job.”
“At the beginning I was afraid of as in the first week training session some of the boys got muscle-pull but thanks God, they recovered very quickly.”
“But after watching them 10 to 12 days’ at the BFF Academy (Sylhet), I realised that there are some natural talents and all the boys have tendency to learn and to work hard.” “Really, after considering the boys’ determination, discipline and sincerity I had a belief that they would be able to win the tournament but I did not disclose before, because anything can be happened in a match,” said Jilani about his boys.
“I could not do any conditioning camp, like – fitness, power and strength training. If the boys could do the conditioning training I think it would be easier for them to win matches.”  “Now we will have to take care of them for long time, BFF is serious about this and will take necessary step to mange a long term camp.”
About the upcoming AFC Under-16 Qualifying competition where Bangladesh will have to play against Saudi Arabia and UAE, Jilani said, “In the AFC competition opponents are very tough but usually in the age group the difference is no big. We will try to fight and play good game.”  
Mohammed Shaun, captain of the Under-16 team in his reaction said, “Team work, discipline and determinations were the significant of winning the title. We had confidence to win and we were always careful to implement the directions of coach.” “I want to play for the main national team and that’s my only target.”
About the AFC competition, Shaun said, “Hope we will play well against the strong opponents. They are physically better
than us but we will try to be more technical against them.” “Now I think, if we will get proper guidance and training we will be able to play better football in future and will represent the national team,” said Shaun.