He fell in love with football at the age of 11 when he was studying in grade six. But his parents didn't like the idea in the first place, considering that their boy might get bad grades for his too much involvement and interest in football. Ultimately, they could not separate the football-affectionate lad from the sport and realised that they had left no option but letting him pave his own way there. This is how Ahmeduzzaman Onassis began his football voyage in 2009.
Onassis, the only child to his parents, was born on May 25 in 1998 at Arambagh in Dhaka, Bangladesh. His father, who is a chef at an American Steak House in Japan since 2005 while the boy with his mother, went to Japan in 2008 to stay together. There he got admitted to the India International School in Grade-6 and later graduated from it recently.
After getting admitted to the school, he noticed that football was the most popular sport during gym periods and saw everyone loved football and talked about it. As there were some skilled players in the higher grades, everyone watched the matches and cheered for them. These inspired the youngster to be a player like them. So, he began to play football with others at the school.
Although he started off very late as compared to others and most people that he played with or against, it was not very difficult for him to cope up with pros-and-cons of football and felt its excitement in a short time.
Later in 2012, his father helped him to get into to a local club Kanezuka SC of the city of their residence. Until last February, he was in there and now playing with the schoolmates and with a Futsal team. Besides, he kept himself fit by swimming and gym activities.
His preferred position is left wing but can play in the attacking mid-field as well. His favourite footballer is Brazilian Ronaldinho and tries to play in his style. Also he follows Belgian footballer Eden Hazard, Spanish Andrés Iniesta, Isco and Argentine Angel Di Maria.
The Bangladeshi boy has a dream to develop his footballing career in his own country. Staying abroad did not push him to forget his country and its football. His primary objectives are to get into the BFF Academy or in an age based team and may not dislike the idea of playing for a local club as well.
"My aim is obviously to get into the national squad but at the moment I might be too young for it, so otherwise I might either trail out for a club or get into the BFF Academy," said the young footballer.
Onassis considers that getting in best eleven of a renowned club at such a young age would make him mentally and physically prepared for a better future.
However on May 10, his father contacted BFF's technical director Bayezid Alam Jobair Nipu and provided him the CV of Onassis. The BFF official said that they will see where they can fit the boy. Like Nipu, Bangladesh head-coach de Kruif also wanted to see him before stating anything. So, Onassis along with his father is coming to Dhaka on May 28.
As the youngman studied in class five before leaving Bangladesh, he is quite good in Bangla and used to speak in Bengali at home with parents. So language would not be a problem for him.
While describing a memorable event of life, he said how badly he was not selected for the U-18 team of JEF United, a J-League Club in 2012. He cried all the way home in the train then. Later he was selected by Kanezuka SC and got training from there.
The Japan migrant boy keeps all the updates of Bangladeshi football regularly. He requested the fans in the country to come to the stadiums more often as any sport is nothing without its fans.
He said, "I've watched many of the Bangladesh Premier League matches live and found that matches in Dhaka are played in almost empty stadium. That's not a good sign and players don't deserve it."