Shamit delighted after first meeting with new coach Dooley

Canadian-born midfielder Shamit Shome on Monday expressed excitement after linking up with the Bangladesh national team and meeting new head coach Thomas Dooley for the first time, as the Bengal Tigers prepare for a landmark international friendly against San Marino on 5 June.

Shamit, who joined the national setup during the team's pre-departure training camp in Dhaka, spoke warmly of his initial interactions with the squad and management, noting the positive atmosphere surrounding the camp.

"The journey was good, and it was really nice to meet everyone," Shamit said. "I met the coach for the first time, so that was also great. I'm looking forward to working with him, and hopefully, we can all do well together."

The 28-year-old also acknowledged the hard work his teammates had already put in before his arrival. "They started the training camp a bit earlier, and the Bangladesh team has been working very hard," he added.

The 5 June fixture will be Bangladesh's first-ever away match against a European nation — a milestone that adds extra weight to Dooley's debut on the Bangladesh bench.

"I'm looking forward to starting the training camp in San Marino. If we can perform well in Friday's match, it should be good," Shamit said, looking optimistic about the team's prospects under the new regime.

Shamit’s inclusion is part of a broader Bangladesh Football Federation strategy to integrate diaspora talent into the national setup.

Born in Edmonton, Alberta, to Bangladeshi parents originally from Sreemangal in Sylhet, Shamit obtained his Bangladeshi passport in May 2025 and received FIFA clearance to represent the national side the following day.

His professional career began when he was signed by CF Montreal (then Montreal Impact) as part of the 2017 Major League Soccer SuperDraft.

He has since accumulated experience across the Canadian Premier League with clubs including FC Edmonton, Forge FC, and Cavalry FC.

He was previously capped twice for the Canadian senior team in 2020 before switching international allegiance.

Alongside Leicester City’s Hamza Dewan Choudhury, Shamit represents a new tier of technical quality that Dooley will be looking to harness as Bangladesh seek to rebuild its international standing.