Knack for long-rangers comes naturally: Morsalin

Bashundhara Kings midfielder Sheikh Morsalin, who went on a loan move to Mohammedan Sporting Club in the 2021-22 season of the Bangladesh Premier League, came into the limelight when he netted a long-ranger against his parent club.

The 19-year-old perhaps felt hard done by after missing out on the preliminary 35-member Bangladesh squad for the upcoming SAFF Championship but he got a surprise call-up to the 30-member squad and made his way to the training camp today. His inclusion came after Matin Miah picked up an injury.

Morsalin drew the attention of Bangladesh coach Javier Cabrera due to his long-shooting calibre as well as the progressive passes he played for the forwards in the recent two matches he played against Sheikh Russel KC and Mohammedan SC.

The former BKSP student played a vital role for the BPL champions Kings by assisting twice against Mohammedan and scoring once in a 6-4 win over Sheikh Russel KC in the previous two matchdays in the league. 

"I think I have been picked following my performances in the last two to three matches which I think was the plus point for me as I performed really well in those matches," Morsalin said. "I think I could not fully satisfy my coach [Oscar Bruzon] during the place-deciding Federation Cup match against Sheikh Russel KC but the coach gave me another chance in the league against the same opponents and I availed the opportunity by displaying my natural performance."

Morsalin, however, was surprised to get a call to the national team after being overlooked for the 35-member preliminary squad which was declared on May 13 but Cabrera drafted Morsalin in the 30-member preliminary squad that was announced on Saturday.

"To be honest, it is my childhood dream to play for the national football team and that is why I left home. As I had missed the 35-member preliminary squad, I never thought I would be included this time but Alhamdulillah, I got a call," Morsalin told The Daily Star while heading report to the team management at a city hotel on Sunday.

"I dreamt about a call (to the national team) last season with the performance I put in for Mohammedan SC but the coach might've thought that I was not mature enough and there were more players in the position I was playing. Since then, I think I got a bit mature and improved myself in this period and got a call though I think there are more areas to be improved," he added.

When asked about his long-range shooting ability, Morsalin said, "I've owned this shooting power since my childhood, so every coach might think I may succeed. They have allowed me to muster the courage to shoot from outside the box and I kept trying it. Thus, I am used to attempting long-range shots."

Highlights

**Morsalin represented Bangladesh U-12 national team in the Mogh Cup in Malaysia in 2015 after being selected through the trials at the District level.

**He then got admitted to BKSP in 2016 and represented the institution in age-group teams.

** He was part of the BKSP team which emerged as champions and runners-up in India's Subrata Cup and was the second-highest scorer with six goals in the U-17 competition in 2019.

**He was the top scorer with 19 goals from 16 matches for Anandi Samajkalyan Krira Sangha in the 2020-21 season in the third division Football League.

**He played only seven league matches for Mohammedan SC last season and as many matches for Bashundhara Kings in the ongoing season and got the call for the preliminary squad of the national team.