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Filipino-American Nick Rimando is a player to watch in Major League Soccer in the U.S. Rimando, a native of Southern California, is the goalkeeper of the Real Salt Lake Team.

Born in Montclair, California, Rimando was born to a father of Filipino descent and to a mother of Mexican descent.

This 32-year old has played in Major League Soccer for over 12 years. In the past, he has been named Most Valuable Player of the team and the league’s Player of the Month.

Last year, Real Salt Lake became the greatest defensive team in the history of Major League Soccer.

With Rimando as its goalkeeper, Salt Lake set an MLS record for fewest goals allowed in a single season — just 20 in 30 matches.

He said, “I just need to go out there every day and perform. The fact that I’m representing the Filipino community — I feel good.”

Rimando not only provides a helping hand on the field — but off of it as well. In fact, in 2010, he raised close to $10,000 for the United Way Charity. He said, “In our profession, you have the opportunity to talk to kids, be a good role model and give back to the community and charities.”

Rimando wants to give more of his time to service activities and the building up of soccer, a sport that he hopes will continue to flourish in both the U.S. and the Philippines.

He said, “We’re just starting to grow it here and I hope it gets more and more bigger there. But to have that on my back as a Filipino, it feels good to carry the weight here in the States.”

Rimando hopes to visit the Philippines sometime in the near future and maybe even hold soccer camps there for the Filipino youth.

(Story courtesy of Henni Espinosa and Jared Bray, ABS-CBN North America Bureau)

 

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