A recent statement by the state minister for sports and youth affairs, Aminul Haque, regarding Zaima Rahman's early involvement in football, has drawn widespread public attention, prompting further clarification and renewed discussion about youth sports development.

The former goalkeeper of the national football team claimed that Zaima Rahman, who is the only daughter of current Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, once had the opportunity to play for the Chelsea Football Club in the United Kingdom. According to the state minister, she was a very talented athlete, and described her as a promising goalkeeper during her early years, noting her height and athletic aptitude for the position.

The comments generated considerable discussion online, with many questioning the claim in the context of Bangladesh's limited historical representation in top-tier English football.

But as the debate online continued, a voice from the past came forward to provide the context. A former coach, Mohammad Hakim, who trained Zaima during her time at the International School Dhaka (ISD), shared recollections and archival photographs of her participation in school-level football.

Hakim, now based in Canada, is not just any coach; he has a very strong background in the sports. He played for Mohammedan in the Dhaka Premier League before taking up coaching as a career. He also holds many international certificates, including the Canadian National Goalkeeping Diploma and the NSCAA Advanced National Goalkeeping Diploma. Hakim currently serves as the goalkeeping manager at the Richmond Hill Soccer Club in Canada.

"Zaima was a natural athlete," Hakim remembered during a recent interview. Despite being among the younger players, she was a part of the core team and was selected as the starting goalkeeper due to her height, reflexes, and composure.

She was part of a school team that included several classmates who have since gone on to distinguished careers. Among them were Tahsin Choudhury, Amani Latif, Alifa Hamid, Charlie Carrick and Nahar Khan, who served as captain. Hakim described Nahar as "one of the most powerful players" during her school days.

Hakim said that even if he couldn't take Zaima to every match outside the school because of the security issues, her talent was very clear to everyone on the field.

Hakim recalled her athleticism was not limited to football, saying, "In track and field, she would come first in running because she had a big step." He also mentioned that her speed and strength was so good for her age that "she would even beat the boys" during the practice sessions.

While the coach cannot confirm if she really got a call from Chelsea-since he lost contact with the family long ago-he believes she had the potential to go very far. "If she had committed to three months of professional training with the right nutrition, she could have been a national-level goalkeeper," he said.

This controversy comes at a time when women's football in Bangladesh is reaching new heights. The Bangladesh women's team won the two last SAFF Championships in recent years, creating history for the nation. They also made their maiden appearance at the Women's Asia Cup recently. It shows that girls in Bangladesh have great talent, but they still face many challenges regarding the social support, limited funding, and a lack of professional opportunities compared to men.

Coach Hakim believes that Zaima could play a vital role in changing this scenario. He sees her as a figure who can inspire Bangladeshi girls to pursue sports and professional careers. He believes that if she remains in the country and resists the "negativity" of public criticism, her brave and international approach will naturally open doors for other young women. "If Zaima leaves the country with this negativity, then the whole nation will lose," Hakim warned, noting that her mindset is what the country needs to develop women's sports.

Youth and Sports State Minister Aminul Haque has since clarified his earlier comments about Zaima and her reported chance to play for Chelsea.

In a Facebook post on his verified page, Aminul Haque said Zaima Rahman played football at school level while living in London during her father's years in exile, which led to an opportunity to join the youth setup of Chelsea Football Club as a goalkeeper. He added that although she had the option to continue, her parents encouraged her to prioritise her education, and she did not pursue football further.

It is well-known that all major football clubs in England have extensive player development programmes that are identical for boys and girls, and Zaima may have done trials for any age group, after which the club may have offered her to stay on, or invited her into the player development programme.

Aminul, a former national team goalkeeper, said he learned about Zaima's goalkeeping background directly from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

Explaining the context, Aminul said he spoke with Zaima during a visit to Mirpur to watch a cricket match. During their conversation, she mentioned she had been a goalkeeper at school, similar to him. He noted that she played football at school level and her height made her well suited to the position.