Many star footballers of Dhaka including Kazi Salahuddin and Ashrafuddin Ahmed Chunnu came to Gopalganj to play the match as, Jubilee Rangers lost 2–1 to Friends Club that day.

[2] Although, Elias was not able to establish his position in the starting XI, he impressed Abahani coach Ali Imam, who later sent him to Azad Sporting Club in order to get game time, in 1981.

After a year at Azad, Elias moved to falling giants Dhaka Wanderers Club, where he also played for a single season.

On 5 April 1985, Elias scored his first international goal, which came in a 1–0 win over Thailand, during the 1986 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

[6] During the 1985 South Asian Games Elias managed to score again as Bangladesh put 8 goals past Maldives.