Anisur Rahman Zico of Bangladesh is awarded the best goalkeeper award of the Bangabandhu SAFF Championship 2023 for his tremendous performance in the tournament, especially for what he did for Bangladesh under the crosspiece in the first semi-final match against Kuwait on the first of July in Bangalore.
SAFF Championship is the biennial international men's football championship of South Asia organised by the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF). Only the best team and performers from the region can shine here.
Although the boys in the red and green outfits lost the semi-final battle by a 0-1 margin to the Kuwaiti team which is 52 ranks better than the Bangladesh team, the fans have enjoyed good performance of the booters. Zico who already had fame for being a talented penalty specialist had amazed the fans with his outstanding actions and reflexes in the match.
The best goalkeeper in the country is now named the best goalkeeper of the Bangabandhu SAFF Championship 2023. Therefore, the recognition means that Bangladesh's Zico is the best goalkeeper in South Asia.
India became the champion of the tournament beating the same Kuwait by 5(1)-4(1) in the tiebreaker of the final on Tuesday night. Indian custodian Gurpreet Singh Sandhu bare handedly blocked a series of Kuwaiti attempts and if not for him, India may not celebrate the victory on Tuesday night. Still, Bangladeshi Zico's performance outshined the Indian custodian and that is why he was named the best goalkeeper of the region.
This year the tournament was named after the father of the Bangladeshi nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Now, winning the best goalkeeper award, Zico surely made it a good memory of his life.
