Shamit’s fluent Bengali stuns, will his game do the same?

A few expatriates have made their way into Bangladesh football in recent times, with Canada-based Shamit Shome being the latest addition after England-based Hamza Choudhury, Fahamedul Islam from Italy, Finland-based Tarik Kazi, and Denmark-based Jamal Bhuiyan.

While a number of factors contribute to this transition, fans' love and affection remain key -- and that is what Shamit has described as a "big factor" behind his decision to come to Bangladesh.

"I'm very grateful for this. I really feel the love -- especially the way everyone has welcomed me on social media. That's also a big factor in my decision to come. I'm getting a lot of support from Bangladeshi fans," Shamit, who is expected to arrive in Dhaka tomorrow morning, said during an interview with The Daily Star.

Getting hold of Shamit, who is all set to make his Bangladesh debut during the Asian Cup Qualifying tie against Singapore at the National Stadium on June 10, was a long-anticipated endeavour.

It was expected that the 26-year-old midfielder would be appreciative of the support he has been receiving from the locals. However, the way the footballer spoke with this reporter -- who also hails from the same region, Sylhet -- was something else.

Naturally, the conversation began in English. The expectation was that, like Hamza, the dialogue would switch back and forth between English and the Sylheti dialect.

But when Shamit, who has played in Canada's top-flight football for nine years, began speaking fluent Bengali with clear pronunciation, it came as quite a surprise.

Bangladesh captain Jamal, despite spending many years in the country, still struggles with Bengali. Hamza, on the other hand, speaks a charming blend of English and the Sylheti dialect.

Shamit does carry a faint trace of his overseas upbringing in his tone, but he speaks proper, standard Bengali -- making it evident that the language is practiced in his household.

Aside from having the reporter taken aback with his fluent Bengali, Shamit also discussed a number of other topics during the interview, which he gave just before boarding the Bangladesh-bound flight.

The Cavalry FC midfielder from the Canadian Premier League shared his excitement about playing for Bangladesh, reflected on his experience in Canadian football, and discussed the motivations behind his decision to represent Bangladesh.

He is already familiar with a few Bangladeshi players and spoke about Hamza. Being a midfielder himself, Shamit admires the playing styles of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. Since childhood, he has looked up to Cesc Fabregas.

The new star of Bangladeshi football talked about his footballing journey, his preferred position, and offered some insight into where he might play in the match against Singapore. He also shared a bit about his discussions with coach Javier Cabrera.

Memories of serene childhood visits to his ancestral home in Srimangal and the soothing embrace of nature there still resonate with Shamit.

His father, Manas Shome, studied at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), while his mother, Nandita Shome, hails from Brahmanbaria.

The couple moved to Canada in the early 1990s and settled there. Shamit and his only sister were born and raised in Canada. His parents are thrilled that he will represent Bangladesh, and his grandparents are eagerly awaiting his debut.

Shamit is embracing a new challenge and wants to contribute meaningfully to Bangladeshi football.

As we wait for Shamit to don the red and green and, perhaps, surprise the nation with something unique on the football pitch -- just as he did with this reporter through his fluent Bengali -- fans can learn more about the player from his full interview in tomorrow's print edition of The Daily Star Sport.