Former Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar said it was an emotional visit for him at the museum of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“I spent some hours of the day and tried to learn many things about him,” the Brazilian superstar told media on Thursday (Jan 23) at Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) office in Dhaka, reports state news agency BSS.
The former Inter Milan goalkeeper earlier arrived on Wednesday (Jan 22) along with FIFA high official Miguel Filipe as a FIFA ambassador for the ongoing Bangabandhu Gold Cup International Football Tournament.
Asked about his feeling of meeting the members of ‘Swadhin Bangla team’, he said it was great opportunity for him to meet the ex players and termed them as real heroes as at that time it was not easy to play football.
The 40-year-old legend also thanked the BFF for giving him the opportunity to visit Bangladesh for the first time and hoped the tournament would get spotlight.
On the daylong program, Julio visited the Bangabandhu museum in the morning.
Then he came at BFF Bhaban where the BFF officials welcomed Julio with bouquet of flowers. Then he took part in a photo session with the members of BFF executive committee as well as Swadhin Bangla Football team at BFF premise.
Julio then went to the Bangabandhu National Stadium to watch the second semifinal match between Bangladesh and Burundi. He is expected to leave Dhaka on Thursday night.
Julio Cesar won 87 international caps for Brazil between 2004 and 2014. He was selected for the 2006, 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups, and two Copa America tournaments. His performance in the 2014 FIFA World Cup match against Germany set the record for most goals conceded in a single match for Brazil.
He was also named UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year after the 2009-10 season and won the Golden Glove award at the 2013 Confederations Cup.