Man behind a miracle

In Bangladesh's 44-year history, sporting success has not been a regular tonic for the hardships the average person undergoes. In fact, it is that very economic hardship that often pushes sporting endeavours to the back-burner, especially if the sport is not cricket.

Now imagine what the scenario may be like for women who want to get into sports. Go a step further and think of schoolgirls in a remote village, for whom even going to school is a kind of achievement. So much for imagination; the fact remains that an under-14 team of schoolgirls from such an area have achieved unprecedented international success in the sports arena, something which their male counterparts are yet to achieve. It took a man of vision and determination to bring this happy tale about. 

Mofiz Uddin has proved that if you are committed and caring you can bring the best out of latent talents capable of winning anything and everything. The teacher of a nondescript primary school in remote Kalsindur village at the foot of the Garo hills is now not only a role model for others to follow but also the architect behind a never-before-experienced success story of Bangladesh by any measure; that of the Under-14 girls' football team on the international front.

The Bangladesh team clinched the AFC U-14 girls' title in the Tajikistan capital of Dushanbe last week in style, scoring an amazing 25 goals against just two on their way to retaining their South and Central Zone crown against the likes of India, Nepal, Iran and the two central Asian teams including the home side.

Mofiz was not there in Dushanbe when those young conquerors beat India in the final 4-0, nor did he coach them to their maiden glory in Kathmandu a year ago. He was not in the limelight when the victorious girls returned to a rapturous reception at the Bangladesh Football Federation, where everybody wanted to share in the glory in front of the camera array.

The man who threaded the nucleus of this victorious team was actually doing the same thing that he had been doing for the last five years; motivating a group of girls to kick a football in that remote schoolyard. Wearing a navy-blue tee-shirt that he got in a FIFA-sponsored short-term coaches' course, the 41-year-old assistant teacher, with a takeaway package barely enough to run his family of four, was preparing the next batch of players when this reporter finally arrived at the now famous Kalsindur school after a 60-kilometre and seven-hour ride from Mymensingh last Wednesday evening.

Many used to call Mofiz a "mad man" when he first started training those girls at the insistence of the school headmistress Minati Rani Shila. But “Mofiz sir” is now a very popular name in that otherwise quiet Dhopdhaur Upazila and his now-famous students see him as their idol.

“It was because of Mofiz sir we first kicked a football. It was because of him we have come this far. I still remember the time he had to sell his paddy crop to support our training and playing expenses. He is not only a teacher to us, he is an extraordinary man and our idol,” this was how Nazma Akhter, a member of the U-14 team, described her mentor.

Nazma's father Abul Kalam, who runs a tea shop at Kalsindur bazaar, recalled how Mofiz persuaded him to allow her daughter to play football.

“He told me 'give me your daughter and you will see how good she will be.' It is only because of him the girls of this remote village have earned respect,” said a beaming Kalam. Like Kalam many others of this village also acknowledge that Mofiz's “football story” has had a positive impact on their lives.

“A few years ago not many people visited this place. But after the good performance of our girls, many important people are coming here. We have electricity now, the roads are getting better. We have also heard a lot more improvements will be done here. These are all because of our dear Mofiz sir. May Allah bless him,” said Idris Ali, one of the villagers.

What makes Mofiz so special? What made him a role model? The answer is very simple. He made us believe that no matter what, if you put your heart into something, you will succeed.

Think of the first day in 2011 when the school headmistress Minati Rani Sheel asked him to a form a girls' football team. The school had to send the team to play in the Bangamata Gold Cup, a country-wide tournament run by the Primary Education Board. It is mandatory for all schools to play the tournament.

Mofiz loved to play all sports including football.

“But I was never a good footballer nor did I have any training in coaching. But I took the challenge. It was very tough. Parents were reluctant to allow their daughters to play football. Our first job was to convince the parents. How our headmistress and I had to pursue the parents in those days! You know, people also did not want girls to play football. But the girls were eager to learn and I was very happy to see their enthusiasm. I showed them football games downloaded from YouTube and they were hungry to learn more and more.

“The secret of their success is that they were disciplined. They trained every day, even on Eid holidays. I can still remember that our girls could only wear the proper kit instead of salwar kamiz when we qualified for the district round,” Mofiz said reflecting on the early days of training with his girls, whose poor parents could hardly afford the nutritious diet an athlete needs, let alone a jersey.

Ask Mofiz and he will tell you how the girls used one set of jerseys round the year without losing or destroying a single one.

“I have tried with the boys in the school but they are not as disciplined and attentive as the girls are. The boys have lost three sets of jersey in a year. But since 2011 till today, the girls have not lost a single jersey,” said Mofiz.

The tough days are gone for Mofiz now. He is getting more students in his coaching sessions.

“Now I'm training 50 girls every day and I think they are very talented. Yes, my workload has gone up and I can hardly find a day for myself to meet friends or relatives. But I'm not unhappy about that. I'll be the happiest if the girls of Kalsindur win World Cup one day,” said Mofiz.

It is certainly an ambitious dream. But at least the dreamer is someone who knows how to sow the seed of unprecedented success.