Rizvi Karim Rumi

Rizvi Karim Rumi
Personal information
Full name Mohamed Rizvi Karim Rumi
Date of birth (1968-05-18) 18 May 1968
Place of birth Kushtia, East Pakistan
(present-day Bangladesh)
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Positions
Youth career
1983 Sonali Jute Mills
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1984–1986 Sadharan Bima
1987 BRTC
1988–1993 Dhaka Abahani
1991 East Bengal
1994–1996 Muktijoddha
1997–1998 Dhaka Abahani
International career
1989–1994 Bangladesh 23 (6)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Bangladesh
South Asian Games
Silver medal – second place1989 IslamabadTeam competition
Bronze medal – third place1991 ColomboTeam competition
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Rizvi Karim Rumi (Bengali: রিজভী করিম রুমি; born 18 May 1968) is a former Bangladeshi footballer who played either as a center-forward or as a winger.[1] Rumi represented the Bangladesh national team in from 1989 to 1994, captaining the team in 1992. He spent most of his club career with Dhaka Abahani and also had a brief stint in India in the Calcutta Football League with East Bengal.[2]

Early life

Rumi was born in Daulatpur Upazila, Kushtia, Bangladesh. He grew up in Daulatpur Thana of Khulna District, where his father, Mohammed Bazlul Karim, worked as a teacher at B.L. College. He was the middle child of three siblings. Rumi supported Dhaka Mohammedan from an early age and began playing football under the guidance of former footballer Mohammed Dara. While studying in the eighth grade at Government Laboratory High School, Rumi began his club career with Sonali Jute Mills in the Khulna First Division Football League in 1983. He had attracted the club's attention the previous year after scoring a hat-trick for Daulatpur Bazar in a local tournament.[3] In his debut season, he finished as the league's third-highest scorer with eight goals. The following year, he represented Khulna District at the National Junior Football Championship in Dhaka, scoring 12 goals as Khulna won the championship.[4]

Club career

Sadharan Bima

Rumi moved to Dhaka in 1984 after receiving an offer from Sadharan Bima CSC playing in the capital's First Division. He had previously enrolled at B.L. College, but left after moving to Dhaka. His breakthrough came in the inaugural DMFA Cup that year, when an injury to Bima's loaned striker Raj Kumar gave him a starting opportunity. Rumi scored a hat-trick against Azad Sporting, two goals against Brothers Union and another against Mohammedan, finishing as the tournament's joint-top scorer with six goals. He played for the club until 1986. At the time, regulations required new players to remain with a club for three years. After completing the three-year period, although Bima offered him the club's captaincy at the end of the 1986 season, Rumi departed.[3]

BRTC

In 1987, Rumi joined BRTC SC on a seasonal salary of Tk 150,000. Despite his poor goalscoring record in the First Division, Rumi played an integral role in the club's run to the semi-finals of the 1987 Federation Cup, scoring four goals to finish as joint top scorer with Rumman Bin Wali Sabbir of Mohammedan.[3] His most notable performance for the club came against Dhaka Abahani in the group stage, when he scored and provided an assist in a 2–1 victory that ultimately eliminated the defending champions from the Federation Cup.[5] He also scored in the 3–1 semi-final defeat to eventual champions Mohammedan.[6]

Dhaka Abahani

In 1988, Rumi joined Dhaka Abahani after being persuaded by club officials Professor Shah Alam and Manzur Quader. He spent most of his debut season with the club in 1988–89 on the bench. Rumi made his breakthrough during an exhibition match held following the conclusion of the league against a touring regional team from Lombardy, Italy. Abahani drew the game 1–1 at the Dhaka Stadium. Rumi also played against the team while representing Khulna XI at the Khulna District Stadium, scoring in a 4–1 defeat.[3] The following season, 1989–90, saw Abahani win the league title for the first time in four years, with Rumi scoring 10 goals to finish as the league's second-highest scorer behind his teammate Sheikh Mohammad Aslam.[7][8]

In 1989, Rumi received an offer from rivals Mohammedan. However, their Iranian coach, Nasser Hejazi, who also served as coach of the Bangladesh national team at the time, opposed the move, refusing to sign Rumi without permission from Abahani. Rumi later stated that he too had no desire to leave, despite being a Mohammedan supporter, as he wanted to continue playing alongside his teammate Monem Munna, who was regarded as the country's most promising talent at the time.[7] The following year, he scored a brace in a 2–1 victory against Mohammedan in the Independence Cup final, helping Abahani win the tournament for the first time.[9]

In February 1991, during Abahani's triumph at the Sait Nagjee Trophy in India, Rumi scored a brace against Indian Bank and a lone goal against Travancore Titanium.[9] In the 1991 BTC Club Cup held in Dhaka, Rumi scored the winning goal against India's East Bengal in the semi-final, as Abahani went on to win the tournament. In the same year, he helped Abahani win the Azmiri Begum Gold Cup in Feni, defeating India's Mohun Bagan 1–0 in the final.[3] He later represented East Bengal in the Calcutta Football League First Division alongside his Abahani teammates Monem Munna and Sheikh Aslam. He scored once as East Bengal won the league title.[10]

When the First Division resumed in Dhaka from 1991–92, Rumi scored nine goals, helping Abahani retain the league title.[11] He also represented the club in the 1991–92 Asian Cup Winners' Cup. He also represented Brothers Union in the 1992–93 Asian Club Championship as a borrowed player. In 1993, he was made club captain and scored eight goals in the DMFA Cup, as Abahani lost the final to Mohammedan. He also scored nine goals in the inaugural Premier Division, as Abahani again finished runners-up behind Mohammedan, relinquishing the league title they had won in the previous two seasons.

Muktijoddha

In 1994, Rumi joined Muktijoddha Sangsad KC alongside several of his national teammates, following a gentleman's agreement among the country's three biggest clubs; Dhaka Abahani, Mohammedan, and Brothers Union, to reduce their players' salaries. He spent two years with the Freedom Fighters and won the Federation Cup in 1994. However, during his second season, he fell out with the club's South Korean coach, Kang Man-young, and its officials, eventually leading to his departure.[3]

Return to Abahani

Rumi returned to Dhaka Abahani for the 1997–98 season. He eventually moved to Canada without announcing his retirement in 1999.[12]

International career

Rumi was part of the Bangladesh national team squad during the 1988 AFC Asian Cup qualification in Abu Dhabi, UAE. He was a member of the Bangladesh Red team which defeated South Korea University in the 1989 President's Gold Cup. During the tournament he became a regular member of the team following the injury of Fakrul Islam Kamal.[3] He made his first official appearance for the national team against Sri Lanka in the 1989 South Asian Games, during which he scored a brace in a 3–0 victory. He was also a member of the national team in the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing, China.[13]

In the 1991 South Asian Games in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Rumi scored a brace against India in the group-stage, as Bangladesh recorded their first-ever victory against the regional giants, winning 2–1.[14][15] In 1992, Rumi received the Sports Writers Association's Best Footballer Award and was also made Bangladesh captain for the 1992 AFC Asian Cup qualification in Bangkok, Thailand.[9] His final international goals came in the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC first round, scoring in 1–0 victory over Sri Lanka Yokohama, Japan, and also in a 4–1 defeat to Japan at Al Maktoum Stadium in UAE.[7]

He later represented the team at the 1993 South Asian Games, where hosts Bangladesh were eliminated in the group stage. Rumi's final international tournament was the Qatar Independence Cup in 1994, in which the BFF sent Muktijoddha Sangsad KC to represent the national team.[16]

Personal life

After retiring from football in 1998, Rumi settled in Canada with his wife and son.[17]

Career statistics

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[13]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Bangladesh
198932
199020
199132
199220
1993112
199420
Total236
Scores and results list Bangladesh's goal tally first.
List of international goals scored by Rumi
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 21 October 1989Jinnah Sports Stadium, Islamabad, Pakistan Sri Lanka1–03–01989 South Asian Games
2 3–0
3 26 December 1991Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka India1–02–11991 South Asian Games
4 2–1
5 13 April 1993Nippatsu Mitsuzawa Stadium, Yokohama, Japan Sri Lanka1–01–01994 FIFA World Cup qualification
6 30 April 1993Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai, UAE Japan1–11–4

Honours

Dhaka Abahani

East Bengal

Muktijoddha

Bangladesh

Individual

  • 1992 − Sports Writers Association's Best Footballer Award.[9]

References

  1. ↑ দেড় দশক পর দেখা ফুটবলার রুমি ও রেহানের. Kiron's Sports Desk (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 31 December 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  2. ↑ "Former India stars remember Munna and Rumi legacy". 14 October 2019. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 যা চেয়েছি, পেয়েছি তার চেয়েও বেশি [I got more than I asked for.]. Kaler Kantho (in Bengali). 6 March 2017. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  4. ↑ Kabir, Iqbal (15 June 1987). "প্রিয় খেলোয়াড়" [Favoourite player] (in Bengali). Krirajagat. p. 46.
  5. ↑ "অষ্টম ফেডারেশন কাপ থেকে আবাহনীর বিদায়" [Abahani's departure from the 8th Federation Cup] (in Bengali). The Sangbad. 3 May 1987. p. 7.
  6. ↑ "মোহামেডান ফাইনালে" [Mohammedan in the final] (in Bengali). The Sangbad. 7 May 1987. p. 11.
  7. 1 2 3 এই রুমি, সেই রুমি [This Rumi, that Rumi]. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  8. ↑ Hossain, Faaris Na'il. "Bangladesh 1989/90". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 7 March 2025. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Mahmud, Dulal (2018). আমাদের ফুটবলাররা (transl. Our Footballers) (in Bengali). Agamee Prakashani. p. 119–122.
  10. ↑ মুন্না-আসলামদের ভোলেনি কলকাতা [Kolkata has not forgotten Munna-Aslam]. Samakal (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  11. ↑ "ফুটবল লীগের গোলদাতারা" [Football League goalscorers] (in Bengali). Krirajagat. 1 July 1992. p. 16.
  12. ↑ করোনাকালে দেশের কথা ভাবেন রুমি [Rumi thinks about the country during the Corona period]. Desh Rupantor (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  13. 1 2 "Rizvi Karim Rumi". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  14. ↑ ভারতের বিপক্ষে সর্বোচ্চ গোল রুমি-আলফাজের. Bangladesh Pratidin (in Bengali). 9 June 2021. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  15. ↑ আজ রুমি হতে পারবেন কেউ?. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  16. ↑ Iqbal, Nair (25 September 2017). ক্লাবই যখন খেলেছে 'বাংলাদেশ' নামে [When a club played under the name 'Bangladesh']. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 3 June 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  17. ↑ Iqbal, Nair. কানাডার মতো না হোক বাংলাদেশ, এটাই চান রুমি. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 3 April 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  18. ↑ কলকাতার ইস্টবেঙ্গল ভুলে গেছে বাংলাদেশের অবদান [Kolkata's East Bengal has forgotten the contribution of Bangladesh]. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Dhaka. 3 August 2020. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
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