Rimon relishing left-back battle

With regular left-back Rahmat Mia sidelined by Covid-19, newcomer Rimon Hossain of Bashundhara Kings is likely to step up as a replacement in the national team, who had their first training session in Kathmandu yesterday ahead of a tri-nation tournament starting on March 23.

Rimon, who hails from Naogaon, is eager to show his worth by facing the challenge head on irrespective of who is ahead of him in the pecking order and has succeeded in carving out a place in defending champions Bashundhara Kings' starting eleven.

"To be honest, I don't want to think much about who is playing at left-back in the national team. I really like taking on the challenge of securing a spot in starting elevens, like I did with Bashundhara Kings," Rimon told The Daily Star on the eve of his departure for Nepal on Thursday.

"I am ready for the challenge of securing a place in the national team but it is not that I must play for the national team on my first call. I want to utilise the opportunity in the best way whether I am given five minutes or 90 minutes," the lanky left-back, who was rewarded for consistent performances in the domestic circuit, added.

Rimon's biggest strength is one-on-one defending, with an ability to not let players get past him or whip in crosses. Further up, he is always on the overlap, ready to cross.

The younger left-back received high praise from Bashundhara Kings coach Oscar Bruzon for getting the better of Abahani's finest forward, Kervens Belfort, in the first meeting of the ongoing season.

Rimon gave all the credit to his academy – Shamsul Huda Football Academy in Jashore, which is producing a lot of top-flight footballers.

"To be honest, I could never have reached this level if I did not get a chance in 2015 to train in the Shamsul Huda FA, which gave me everything for five years to mature as a footballer. Without the academy, I would perhaps have been playing second or third division football," he said, also thanking his parents for supporting him since childhood.

Rimon helped Bashundhara Kings become third in the Pioneer Football League in 2016 before playing for Arambagh Football Academy in the 2018 3rd Division League. He then played for Social Friends in the 2019 2nd Division League before finally returning to Kings in the Bangladesh Premier League in 2020 and cementing a place.

"I never thought I would get a national call-up. After nine league matches, Jamie Day sent me a text saying that I had been playing well and if I kept it intact, I could train with the U-23 national team and the national football team. After receiving an SMS from Jamie, I realised that I was going to get a call-up for the national team.

"I haven't come here to disappear. My target is to stay in the national team for a long time by performing for both my club and the national team."