Hindustan Surkhiyan Desk: It should have been a regular catch for goalkeeper Shahidul Alam Sohel’s but his fumble in the 33rd minute of the match cost Bangladesh dearly in their match against Nepal yesterday as the hosts failed to reach the semifinals of the SAFF Championship for the fourth successive time.
Sohel, while talking to The Daily Star today, shouldered all the blame for the defeat, saying that it was his fault alone that cost the team.
The goalkeeper explained what happened during that fatal moment: “To tell the truth the ball got lost in the floodlight as it came from the angle of the glare of the lights. I tried to grip the ball even as I could not see it.”
The 29-year-old goalkeeper let slip through his hands a regulation catch from Nepal No. 10 Bimal Gharti Magar’s free-kick in the 33rd minute and Sohel apologized for breaking fans’ hearts.
“It is my fault, no one else’s fault. Not the coaching staff or the other players. I played badly and the goal happened due to me.
“Everyone came with the expectation to see us in the final and wanted us to become champions but it did not happen because of me.
“I am sorry and I apologize to everyone,” Sohel cocluded.
