On the eve of Bangladesh's Asian Cup Qualifier against India, the national team followed their usual tradition: coaches, key players and team officials delivering motivational speeches after the final training session. But this time, an unexpected voice added a new emotional weight to the moment – ball-boy Mohammad Mohsin.

Mohsin is not your usual ball-boy -- he is a grown up man now, having started his work as a ball-boy with the BFF more than two decades ago, He has been an integral part of men's football teams all along -- both the senior team as well as the age-group ones. He has earned the faith and affection of many local and foreign coaches alike, becoming more of a family member to the players.

Mohsin, who had also been inside the dressing room the last time Bangladesh defeated India 2-1 in the 2003 SAFF Championship semifinal, was invited to speak alongside stars such as Hamza Choudhury, Jamal Bhuyan, and others.

Recalling the moment, Mohsin told The Daily Star: "I was there in 2003 when Bangladesh beat India. I told the players, 'We will enter the pitch to win and leave it with a victory, sending every spectator home with a smile.'"

He also remembered the words of then-coach George Kottan before the 2003 clash: "You are carrying the national flag of Bangladesh -- please take care of it."

Team manager Amer Khan believes Mohsin's heartfelt message, combined with the emotional speeches from the coaching staff and senior players, heightened the team's hunger for victory. He described the final team talk by coach Javier Cabrera:

"We have been away from our families for more than 500 hours. 180 million people are looking at us. We could not qualify for the finals, but can't we beat India?" Amer recalled Cabrera saying.

After the coach's briefing, players including Hamza, Jamal, Rakib Hossain, Sheikh Morsalin, Topu Barman, and Rahmat Mia continued motivating one another in a circle, Amer added.

Amer, himself a former footballer, felt Bangladesh also had "luck and blessings" on their side, especially during the tense closing moments when India pushed hard for an equaliser. A decisive goalline clearance from Hamza preserved the lead until the final whistle.

At halftime, Cabrera had reminded the players that the job was only half done.

"We have completed only 50 percent of the task. Now we must finish the remaining 50 minutes. If possible, double the margin -- but don't concede," he reportedly told the squad.

After holding on without conceding late, something that had haunted them in previous matches, the Bangladesh camp erupted in joy. Players danced and sang in the dressing room before continuing celebrations at the team hotel, where cakes were cut and Rakib's birthday was also celebrated.

Most players left the hotel at midnight, while Hamza departed for England early in the morning. Before heading to the airport, he, along with Shamit, Jamal, BFF president Tabith Awal and vice-president Fahad Karim, visited the BFF House at around 5:30am. There, they took photographs with members of the U-17 and U-15 women's teams staying at the BFF dormitory -- a final gesture of encouragement before leaving Dhaka.