Bangladesh football in its early days - especially in the 1970s and 80s - witnessed crowds pouring into stadiums hours before the game.
In later decades, it was often said those days were long gone.
But that crowd-pulling spectacle seems to have returned - thanks to Hamza Choudhury.
The inclusion of expatriates like Hamza and Shamit Shome in the Bangladesh team felt like a revival of those football-mad scenes at Tuesday's match venue.
The occasion was Bangladesh's second Asian Cup qualifying match against Singapore, where the Hamza-Shamit pair was expected to make their debut.
Hamza had already made his debut during the opening Asian Cup qualifying fixture last March, when the England-based midfielder performed up to expectations and helped the men in red and green earn a draw away to India.
Seeing Hamza capture the spotlight inspired other expatriate footballers to consider switching allegiance to Bangladesh.
Shamit was initially hesitant, but later decided in April to represent Bangladesh.
The rush for tickets to the Singapore match was something not seen in recent years.
Even during the friendly against Bhutan last week, the gallery was packed as Hamza scored his first goal for Bangladesh just six minutes into his debut on home soil.
Though it was a preparation match for the Singapore tie, fans did not want to miss the chance to watch Hamza play.
Scenes around the newly-renovated National Stadium Tuesday morning - before the evening clash with Singapore - evoked memories of football’s marvelous past.
Sakib Hossen traveled all the way from Satkhira district to watch Hamza’s game.
Accompanied by a friend, he reached the stadium 10 hours before kick-off.
He admitted that the pre-match atmosphere surrounding the Singapore fixture sparked memories of the golden era, especially in terms of fan interaction.
"This is my first time here. I felt a spark seeing so many spectators arrive so early. Many came before me," said Sakib, who introduced himself as a businessman.
The number of students was even greater.
Redwan Ahmed, a student, came from the capital in the morning with friends.
"The craze is high because Hamza, Fahamedul Islam, and Shamit are playing. That’s why people came early," said Redwan.
"Bangladesh football is getting a new life. It must improve. Hopefully, we will regain the vibes of the past," he added.
Jannatur Nudir Anisha and Anika Sultana Prova also arrived early.
"We came early to avoid the long queues we faced before the Bhutan match last week," said Prova.
"Having a player like Hamza added to the team is the best thing for us," said Anisha.
Tanvir Hasan, a madrasa student, came in a group of five and was found standing in the crowded line outside the gate six hours before the game.
"We enjoy watching Hamza play. He came to our country. Hopefully, he will do well and lift our football," said Tanvir, who, like Sakib, Redwan, and many others, wore a Bangladesh jersey.
"The whole day is for Hamza," he added.
The gates opened a little more than four hours before kick-off.
Spectators rushed in to fill the seats, creating a vibrant atmosphere.
The old days may have returned in terms of fan presence, but this feels more like a new dawn for Bangladesh football - where expatriates like Hamza are the protagonists.
The whole team, however, must also perform to keep the hype alive.