Memories of Gopal Hazra, a footballer from Baliadanga village in Mulia Union, Narail. Seventy-five-year-old Gopal Hazra resides in Baliadanga village under the Mulia Union of Narail Sadar Upazila. Uzzjal Roy reports from Narail that this man, who grew up amidst the severe hardships of poverty, was a renowned football player in southern Bengal during the former East Pakistan era.

On the playing field, his position was as a back, meaning he was a defensive player. Finding a peer to match his skills in sports, both then and now, is extremely difficult. He was adept at calmly neutralizing opposing team's attacks with a cool head. His legs and head moved with lightning speed. Standing 5 feet 6 inches tall, this unique player never wore boots, shoes, anklets, or safeguards; he felt most comfortable playing football barefoot. Instead, he would cut the borders from cloth saris to make makeshift bandages, wrapping them around his feet and ankles before stepping onto the pitch. This astonishing and courageous footballer's father was Bihari Lal Hazra and his mother was Kanchanbala, both of whom passed away long ago.

Recalling memories of his football life, Gopal Hazra said, "In my childhood, I learned to play ball using chholom (hog plum) fruits. Right at noon, I would steal chholom from other people's trees. While studying in class six at Narail Victoria Collegiate School, I got the opportunity to play with a leather ball." He added that he started playing inter-school football from class six onwards. In 1969, during the former East Pakistan period, Narail Victoria School created a nationwide sensation when it became champion in the inter-school football tournament of the greater Jashore district under the Narail subdivision (now district) and subsequently at the national level held in Dhaka.