"I dream of playing in one of the European leagues" : Kaleemullah

[MenInG]

Known as ‘Pakistan’s Messi’, Kaleemullah Khan is a striker who plays for FC Dordoi in Kyrgyzstan. He is FC Dordoi’s 5th highest goal-scorer in club’s history with 18 goals in 17 matches. He made his international debut for Pakistan in 2011 in a friendly match against Palestine. He has bagged 4 goals for Pakistan in his short career.

In an exclusive interview with PakPassion.net, Kaleemullah Khan discusses his inspirations as a child, his passions, Pakistan’s chances in the World Cup Qualifiers, his future aspirations, about the ISL and much more.

​

PakPassion.net : Most youngsters in Pakistan spend time playing cricket on the streets. How did the passion in football grow in you as a child?

Kaleemullah : People in Baluchistan, especially in Chaman, are die-hard fans of football. Since my childhood, football was my passion. Whether it was day or night, I just had football on my feet. I loved to play this sport and I knew that I had what it takes to be a professional player.


PakPassion.net : Which player was your biggest inspiration when you were growing up?

Kaleemullah : Usually, people in Pakistan follow top international stars and dream of playing in the best clubs in Europe, but mine was a different case. My cousin Essa Khan was an inspiration for me. He has served Pakistan football for many years. Playing for Afghan club, Chaman had always been my dream and luckily, I was able to fulfill my dream.


PakPassion.net : Do you follow the football leagues around the world like EPL, La Liga, Serie A and Bundesliga etc?

Kaleemullah : Yes, obviously! I do follow all the top leagues of Europe. Football means the life to me. As far as supporting European clubs are concerned, I support Real Madrid. They are the European giants and I think that club has got everything in it. All the players they have posses different skills and techniques. Once they combine those skills together, they become lethal.


PakPassion.net : Have you ever thought of a dream move to the big European leagues like EPL, La Liga etc? Is it very hard to play in them?

Kaleemullah : Yes, it goes without saying. Every footballer has a dream to play in the top leagues in the world and for that, hard work is all you need. You can survive with hard work, even though you are not naturally gifted because hard work beats talent if talent doesn’t work hard. I will keep on working hard to make this possible one day.


PakPassion.net : How do you see Pakistan's performance in the upcoming World Cup Pre-Qualifier 2nd leg against Yemen? Do we have a chance of a win?

Kaleemullah : The team had a great start this year and hopefully we will give our best performance in the up-coming 2nd leg. Unfortunately, we lost 3-1 in the away leg at Doha, Qatar, but with full support of our fans in Lahore, we are confident of progressing.


PakPassion.net : India staged the ISL. Do you think it was a success and how important is it for Pakistan to hold such a big league and invite foreign players to play here?

Kaleemullah : Yes, I think it was definitely a very big success. Especially, because it was the first time that such a big event took place in the South Asian region. Well, I am convinced that it’s going to be a great initiative if Pakistan is to stage anything close to the stature of the ISL. Our local domestic talent will emerge and our players will get to learn and experience a lot from the foreign players once they rub shoulders with them and share the dressing room with them.


PakPassion.net : You're currently playing in Kyrgyzstan. Have you received offers from clubs abroad like in Europe? Are you considering moving there?

Kaleemullah : Firstly, I’d like to say that I’ve had a great time in Kyrgyzstan. It’s been a wonderful experience for me and I have thoroughly enjoyed myself. I have scored a lot of goals and finished the season as the highest goal-scorer in the league with 18 goals, but now I feel it’s time to move on. I’ve received multiple offers from abroad and I’ve opted to go to Iceland next season. I hope this move of mine would prove to be as fruitful as my previous one was if not more.


PakPassion.net : What was your dream when you were still a child and has it been fulfilled yet?

Kaleemullah : I dreamt of representing Pakistan one day and thanks to Allah Almighty, it has been possible due to my hard work. It’s a dream of every footballer to be able to play for his country. He has given me more than what I wished for when I was young.


PakPassion.net : Do you think Pakistan will be able to qualify for the World Cup anytime soon?

Kaleemullah : Yes, why not! It’s a slow process, but if we are given the right training and players work hard, we can qualify for the World Cup one day. Our players have the potential to succeed, but lack proper training. I am sure if we play as a team and play with unity, we can qualify for the World Cup.


PakPassion.net : Do you think the PFF is doing enough for the betterment of football in Pakistan and is the status improving?

Kaleemullah : Yes, the PFF is doing its bit and is keen in developing football in Pakistan. Again, it will take time, but the signs are encouraging. The PFF needs to make dramatic changes to develop football to an international level in our country.


PakPassion.net : What do you want to do once you retire as a player? Any future plans?

Kaleemullah : Yes for the love of the game, I would surely want to be a part of it till the end of my life. I aim to take up coaching once my playing days are over and I will work to develop young footballers in my country.


PakPassion.net : There is an immense fan following of football in Pakistan. What message do you want to give to young players who want to take up football as a profession?

Kaleemullah : It’s pleasing to see such support and awareness of football in Pakistan, but it’s sad that we have not been able to develop many players over the years. My message to the fans would be to be brave and never be afraid to be a hero. All of us have hidden potential and we need to discover it. Play the game with passion and learn to respect the game. Play the game to learn and not to earn. It’s certain that your game will give you a lot once you give the game your all.

 

[Sakss]

Great interview, Sounds like an ambitious guy..

Have seen him play a few times, seems very good

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Seems like a talented player.

There is no doubt there is a growing love for football in Pakistan and hopefully we can qualify for the World Cup sometime in the next few decades.

 

[BeingFaridKhan]

Many thanks to PakPassion for allowing me to interview Kaleemullah. Very talented player and all the best to him for the World Cup Qualifier 2nd leg against Yemen in Lahore.

 

[dzor]

Thank you very much PakPassion for the interview from him!! Expect for Ronaldo and Messi, Kaleem is my favourite player, and I think him and Chengazhi will be one of Pakistanis most legendary players, he's only 22 and look at whats he won.


KRL F.C.
Pakistan Premier League winner (2): 2011, 2012–13
Pakistan Premier League Runners-up (1): 2010–11
Pakistan National Football Challenge Cup (3): 2009, 2011, 2012
AFC President's Cup Runner up (1): 2013
Dordoi Bishkek
Kyrgyzstan League (1); 2014
Kyrgyzstan Super Cup (1): 2014
Kyrgyzstan Cup (1): 2014
Ala-Too Cup (1): 2015
§Individual[edit]
2014 Kyrgyzstan League Top goalscorer (18)[10]
2014 Kyrgyzstan League He was declared as the best player of the Football League Kyrgyzstan as a result of online voting conducted on the official website of the Football League Kyrgyzstan.[11]
5th top scorer in FC Dordoi Bishkek historys[3]

I think he could be Pakistans best player ever


Seriously he is a talent for sure, start off slow in Lower leagues and progress yourself up, can't wait to see him in my football management games one day lol, good luck Kaleem !!

 

[liaqat]

wish him all the best and time for the sport's ministry to fund and help progress the game in Pakistan.

Cricket isnt the only source of sports in Pakistan,
They need to create other venues for people to explore and try

 

[Afridian4Life]

should apply for Arsenal or Barcelona youth acedemy

 

[MenInG]

Looks like a special talent. Hopefully his move to Iceland will be a lucrative one.

 

[AZ]

saw the qualifier against Yemen, the lads lost their heads a bit after going behind but they can definitely play, have got good skills and can pass the ball around quite neatly.

 

[Saj]

Best of luck to Kaleem for the future.

 

[Neferpitou]

Good luck.

 

[Anchorman]

Hope he fulfills his dream.

 

[shaz619]

[MENTION=47617]Red Devil[/MENTION] is this you?

 

[Red Devil]

[MENTION=47617]Red Devil[/MENTION] is this you?

Yeah of course, lool. Thanks for the well wishes, everyone.

 

[Anchorman]

I can see it now. [MENTION=47617]Red Devil[/MENTION] scoring the winner in a CL final.

 

[Red Devil]

I can see it now. [MENTION=47617]Red Devil[/MENTION] scoring the winner in a CL final.

Haha yesss it's my destiny, Anchors.

Jokes aside, I really hope he makes it to Europe, I know it's highly unlikely but it would be so awesome to see a Pakistani player play for a reputable club.

 

[Anchorman]

Haha yesss it's my destiny, Anchors.

Jokes aside, I really hope he makes it to Europe, I know it's highly unlikely but it would be so awesome to see a Pakistani player play for a reputable club.

Seriously. It would be incredible watching a Pakistani actually "make" it in the footballing world. All it takes is one legend to inspire a generation.

 

[shaz619]

Haha yesss it's my destiny, Anchors.

Jokes aside, I really hope he makes it to Europe, I know it's highly unlikely but it would be so awesome to see a Pakistani player play for a reputable club.

Seriously. It would be incredible watching a Pakistani actually "make" it in the footballing world. All it takes is one legend to inspire a generation.

We have a Pakistani that has been signed by Villa! support him

and ) I can't see RD as a football player but defo as a referee, can you imagine him running up and down the pitch with a jimmie hart megaphone shouting baaah gawwd that killed him, what slobber knocker! what's going on here? look out! the human body is not supposed to take so much punishment! and then when someone scores an own goal he'd be like NOT LIKE THIS NO! NOT LIKE THIS! THIS MAN HAS A FAMILY! A LIFE! during a spectacular goal, THAT SOB! )

 

[Red Devil]

We have a Pakistani that has been signed by Villa! support him

and ) I can't see RD as a football player but defo as a referee, can you imagine him running up and down the pitch with a jimmie hart megaphone shouting baaah gawwd that killed him, what slobber knocker! what's going on here? look out! the human body is not supposed to take so much punishment! and then when someone scores an own goal he'd be like NOT LIKE THIS NO! NOT LIKE THIS! THIS MAN HAS A FAMILY! A LIFE! during a spectacular goal, THAT SOB! )

Loool really? Is he any good?


) I'd be like the WWE referees, I'd take bumps whenever my team commits a fouls or something ) Oh bah gawd the Ref never saw it )

 

[shaz619]

Loool really? Is he any good?


) I'd be like the WWE referees, I'd take bumps whenever my team commits a fouls or something ) Oh bah gawd the Ref never saw it )

) The first referee in history that dives

He's a new guy only 16, good prospect:

http://tribune.com.pk/story/827833/british-pakistani-signs-two-year-contract-with-aston-villa/

 

[Red Devil]

) The first referee in history that dives

He's a new guy only 16, good prospect:

http://tribune.com.pk/story/827833/british-pakistani-signs-two-year-contract-with-aston-villa/

Oh cool, must be a hot prospect if Bayern Munich and Liverpool were interested in signing him, too! Hope he makes it to the first team in the coming years.

 

[ddss]

Sacramento Republic FC Sign Forward Kaleemullah

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (June 18, 2015) – Sacramento Republic FC have agreed to a contract with forward Kaleemullah Khan. The Pakistan Men’s National Team captain is believed to be the first Pakistani-born player to sign a contract with a professional U.S.-based soccer club, based on current record keeping.

“The signing of Kaleemullah demonstrates the continued mission of Republic FC to bring the best players from around the world to our Capital City,” said Republic FC Technical Director Graham Smith. “His scoring prowess is well documented, but it may also still take a little time for him to both learn the style of play in the U.S. in addition to Preki’s coaching style.”

Kaleemullah joins Republic FC after spending last season with Dordoi Bishkek of the Shoro Top League, the Kyrgyz First Division. He appeared in 17 matches for Dordoi Bishkek, who went on to win the Shoro Top League title. Kaleemullah was the MVP and Golden Boot winner after leading the league in scoring with 18 goals in 2014. Prior to his one-year stint in Kyrgyzstan, Kaleemullah appeared in 94 matches in five Pakistan Premier League seasons, scoring 72 goals. He won the Pakistan Premier League Golden Boot after setting the record for goals (31) and hat tricks (7) in a single season in 2013.

In 2014, Kaleemullah was named captain of the Pakistani Men’s National Team. He has appeared in 25 matches for Pakistan since 2011, scoring four goals.

With the signing of Kaleemullah, Republic FC players now represent 12 different countries, from five different continents.

For full player bios and stats, visit SacRepublicFC.com.

http://www.sacrepublicfc.com/news/2015/06/18/srfc-signs-kaleemullah

 

[MenInG]

Very good and I hope he earns some good money also!

 

[Slog]

Will be a good exposure.

This is the 3rd Tier of US Soccer leagues so don't expect the competition to be that much higher than what he faced in Kyrgyzstan but he is only 22 so if he can continue his upward trajectory in terms of performance hopefully the day is not far when we see him in the MLS.

Hopefully his story serves as a source of inspiration to the talented kids in Lyari and Balochistan who do not go pro due to lack of financial certainty associated with being a Pakistani footballer

 

[#GreenRoars]

Awesome news it is.

 

[Red Devil]

Great news! Wish him all the best!

 

[MenInG]

Kaleemullah fears FIFA ban

KARACHI: Pakistan’s top striker and Tulsa Roughnecks player Kaleemullah fears a ban by FIFA on Pakistan if the current situation with the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) continues.

The 23-year-old Chaman-based player believes that the PFF’s matters should be resolved as early as possible by the government before the international governing body places a ban on the country which will leave players with an uncertain future.

“The lazy and lengthy legal battle between the two [opposing factions within the PFF] will only waste talent and the player’s time,” said Kaleemullah while talking to The Express Tribune. “These players are already finding it difficult to pursue the sport they love. If the ban is placed, then they will lose their livelihood.”

National Challenge Cup to be called off

Last year, the PFF had been split between two groups, incumbent president Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat’s and his opponents led by Arshad Lodhi and Farasat Ali Shah.

Even with a change in administration, there will be no new PFF considering all of the officials involved have worked together in the same system for more than 12 years.

“The two factions have got nothing to do with football; none of them have been footballers or professionals in any sport,” said Kaleemullah. “It’s reduced to political struggle. And players are already not featuring in any events abroad and the Pakistan Premier Football League isn’t taking place either. It is almost as if we are going through a sanction already, without the ban itself.”

Kaleemullah urged that it would be best for the courts to fast-track PFF’s case or to leave the matter alone, giving Hayat the two years given by FIFA to hold elections. “We can only appeal to the government and the courts. Alternatively, considering Hayat has stayed in office for the past 13 years, and FIFA has given him two more, we might as well just go along with it instead of pursuing the case in court.”

Kaleemullah hopes to find goalscoring form soon

Kaleemullah’s views align with those of his former KRL teammates Sadam Hussain, Mohammad Adil and Saadullah, who also agree that a ban will only make it more difficult for players to sign contracts at clubs abroad.

Meanwhile, former Nigerian player Emeka Aliewa, who is the current coach of the Mescon Islamabad Football Academy, believes it will be the players who are at a disadvantage.

“You see, everyone will eventually leave,” said Aliewa, who is aware of the consequences of a ban. “In case of a ban a lot of things are taken away from the players anyway, what are they going to do?”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 24th, 2016.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/1090497/kaleemullah-fears-fifa-ban/

 

[Arham_PakFan]

KARACHI: The blame game has already begun. Returning to the international fold after a three-year gap, Pakistan aren’t expected to do wonders at this month’s Asian Games or the SAFF Suzuki Cup that follows but humiliation there will only heighten the level of accusations hurled by each of the disputing parties.

The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has seemingly stooped to a new low in accusing the country’s star striker Kaleemullah of preferring money before the national team. In comments to DawnNewsTV this week, PFF’s Sardar Naveed Haider Khan explicitly said Kaleem had signed a contract with Turkish fifth-division side Izmirspor ‘for the money’ while skipping national team duties and the twin upcoming assignments.

It provoked a strong reaction from Kaleem.

“My name was specifically omitted from the list by [PFF president] Faisal Saleh Hayat because of the statements I’d given about the working of the PFF,” he told Dawn on Friday, adding a new twist to the saga that has engulfed Pakistan football this week.

“It’s very petty-minded of them to do that really,” added the frustrated player.

Kaleem’s comments follow a gag order that has been imposed on the national team players, who earlier this week returned from a training camp in Bahrain where they played games against local sides. Dawn tried to speak to some players during their tour but to no avail.

“At times the players don’t realise what they’re saying so we’ve stopped them from speaking,” the PFF spokesperson told Dawn.

It added more weight to Kaleem’s claim that he has been barred from the national team for his comments.

“They have barred me because I have spoken about the unprofessionalism in the PFF on several forums,” he added.

“People ask me a number of times why we aren’t going forward as a football nation. Is it not right to talk about the role that the PFF has to play for that?” he questioned. “Whose job is it to develop football in Pakistan?”

The striker, who has also played for clubs in Kyrgyzstan and the United States, added that the PFF couldn’t ask players ‘not to speak the truth” since’ none of the players are centrally-contracted”.

Kaleem’s name wasn’t included in the first list of 59 probables called up for the national team camp at the end of May. At that time the PFF had said the striker, then playing for another Turkish club, would be called up with the rest of the foreign-based lot. The PFF, on June 27, wrote a letter — seen by Dawn — to K-Electric, Kaleem’s parent club in the country, to release him for the national team camp.

It’s surprising though that if the striker was being treated as a foreign-based player, why the PFF would write a letter to K-Electric. Nevertheless, Kaleem turned up for training.

“I was surprised when my name wasn’t in the initial list and I contacted both [technical director] Shahzad Anwar and [head coach] Jose Antonio Nogueira to find out,” Kaleem informed. “I was initially told that the foreign-based players would only be considered for the SAFF Cup.

“At the time when most of the players were getting ready to go to Bahrain, I was called up to the training camp in Lahore. I met both Shahzad and Nogueira and told them that I’d be willing to join the squad in Bahrain after a few days in Turkey where I had to finalise my transfer to Izmirspor and also because I was getting engaged.

“I was assured that I’d be sent a letter in Turkey to join the camp,” added Kaleem. “It hasn’t arrived yet and now they are talking about me being money-minded. I’ve been told that my name was also included in the list for the Asian Games [that run from Aug 2 to Sept 18] but Hayat deliberately slashed it off the list.”

Shahzad, meanwhile, called out Kaleem for being unprofessional.

“He was asked to report on the June 30 yet he appeared out of nowhere on July 8,” the recently-installed PFF technical director told Dawn on Saturday. “Yes he did tell us his plans but from the only training session he attended, we could see that he wasn’t even close to full fitness. I have no doubt when I say that the players we have in his position at this moment in time are much better and much fitter than him. He was only given light training and he left the camp the very next day without informing anyone. Therefore we don’t have any obligation to call him up.”

Kaleem, meanwhile, slammed Brazilian Nogueira’s acumen as a coach on basis of that one training session. “He was telling us what you tell six-year-olds,” said Kaleem. “I’ve been lucky to have got training under some top coaches so I can tell the difference. I was told we have an hour-long training session yet the session stretched to six hours. I’ve never done that in my career. I very bluntly told them that this was very unprofessional. For God’s sake, it’s a national team camp.”

With the gag order in place, none of the Pakistan players responded when approached for questions by Dawn on Nogueira. But Shahzad, who hired Nogueira in the first place and is an old friend of the Brazilian, defended the national team coach. “He’s working with the team and it will show results,” said the man who has been old friends with Nogueira. “The camp has been good and it will bear fruit.”

The PFF technical director added that a tour to Qatar had been finalised with the team playing two matches there before flying out to Bangladesh for the SAFF Cup, which kicks off from Sept 4.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1425007/kaleemullah-slams-petty-pff-as-row-rumbles-on

 

[Syed1]

Same corrupt wadera Faisal Saleh Hayat has been PFF president since Musharraf era and our side has only regressed and regressed. What sort autocratic policies are these that players are issued gag orders and dropped if they comment on anything. Pathetic. I hope IK slaps this corrupt wadera with long jail sentence.

 

[Waseem]

I never understood what Faisal Saleh Hayat's qualifications are but he seems to be the lifetime PFF president, ZERO progress made under him.

I think Pakistan needs a full time Sports Minister.

 

[Slog]

I never understood what Faisal Saleh Hayat's qualifications are but he seems to be the lifetime PFF president, ZERO progress made under him.

I think Pakistan needs a full time Sports Minister.

lmao he is still the PFF president?

So Musharraff, Shaukat Aziz, Gillani, Zardari, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Nawaz, Khaqan Abbassi and 2 interim governments have come and gone but he is still there lol

seems like he was inspired by Blatter

 

[Slog]

Same corrupt wadera Faisal Saleh Hayat has been PFF president since Musharraf era and our side has only regressed and regressed. What sort autocratic policies are these that players are issued gag orders and dropped if they comment on anything. Pathetic. I hope IK slaps this corrupt wadera with long jail sentence.

I never understood what Faisal Saleh Hayat's qualifications are but he seems to be the lifetime PFF president, ZERO progress made under him.

I think Pakistan needs a full time Sports Minister.

I can never forget that around 2007 or so he claimed that Pakistan and the United States footballing teams were at similar levels!

And US were in top 20 then and regularly made WC knockouts

 

[Pakistanian]

I don't blame Kaleem, he needs to maximize his earnings for as long as he's physically capable of playing.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

I never understood what Faisal Saleh Hayat's qualifications are but he seems to be the lifetime PFF president, ZERO progress made under him.

I think Pakistan needs a full time Sports Minister.

He has good connections with Bahrain and other Middle-eastern countries.Lets hope he is sacked soon.

 

[Strike!]

lmao he is still the PFF president?

So Musharraff, Shaukat Aziz, Gillani, Zardari, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Nawaz, Khaqan Abbassi and 2 interim governments have come and gone but he is still there lol

seems like he was inspired by Blatter

He has good connections with Bahrain and other Middle-eastern countries.Lets hope he is sacked soon.

He can't be sacked because of Fifa's no political interference policy. PMLN tried to get him removed but that resulted in FIFA banning Pakistani football for three years.

 

[MenInG]

KARACHI : Former Pakistan football team captain Kaleemullah has asked the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) to explain its claims after calling him ‘a traitor’ for playing in the Turkish league.

The 25-year-old received a notice this month by the PFF where the federation told him that he violated the code of conduct by voicing his opinion about the lack of facilities in Pakistan and that, under the leadership of PFF president Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, football in the country has not grown as it was supposed to.

“In your [PFF’s] letter, you have explicitly mentioned that I violated Articles 2g and 2n of the PFF Code of Conduct. I would first of all kindly ask you to provide me with a copy of that document. I would also ask you why it wasn’t given to me during all the years when I was representing Pakistan,” Kaleemullah’s letter said.

Former captain Kaleemullah hits out at football federation

The PFF had said in their letter to Kaleemullah that he was not supporting the national team during the South Asian Football Federation (Saff) Championship and that he should reply by September 29 or else the matter will go to the PFF Disciplinary and Ethics Committee, which is also a rather mysterious entity as no one knows who are the members of it, while Fifa in 2015 had pointed out that they are not independent bodies within the federation.

“PFF vice-president Sardar Naveed Haider on social media called me a traitor and threatened to hang me. General Secretary PFF, Colonel Lodhi, I sent you the video and tweet but I did not get a response from you or any senior official from PFF. The PFF is answerable to me for this unprofessional and absurd misconduct and I want an explanation by October 5, 2018,” Kaleemullah added.

Kaleemullah was ignored by the federation for both the Asian Games, where the team could have three over-aged players and then Saff Championship, and the PFF said at the time that it was due to Kaleemullah not being fit.

However, the Chaman-born striker signed his contract in Turkey and now plays for IgdirSpor.

In his first match he scored a goal and also assisted for the other.

“It is a great feeling to score again,” Kaleemullah told The Express Tribune. “I have been waiting for this. I can only prove my worth by performing to the best of my ability. I’m happy with Igdirspor, it is a lower-tier league in Turkey but it is a step in the right direction, a doorway to playing in Europe one day too. I feel I am opening these doors for other Pakistanis as well.”

Kaleemullah was also the first player to sign for the US Major League where he played two seasons with Sacramento Republic and Tulsa Roughnecks FC.

But his achievements were easily forgotten by Hayat, and in his latest press conference, he picked on the fact that Kaleemullah is playing in a lower-tiered team in Turkey.

“I’m the same, I wasn’t playing in the first-tier teams abroad earlier either, but they would take credit for my success, now I’m a bad seed,” said Kaleemullah with disappointment.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/181514...-answers-pff/?amp=1&__twitter_impression=true

 

[Adijazz1706]

Maybe can get Hayat removed surreptitiously to avoid a FIFA ban somehow [MENTION=142451]Mian[/MENTION] kuch sochen iska

 

[Abdullah719]

Kaleemullah agrees Rs5m deal with Iraqi club Al-Najaf

Pakistan’s top striker Kaleemullah confirmed that he is training with Iraq’s Al-Najaf FC as he has joined them after a Rs5m deal for four months.

The 26-year-old had been playing in a Turkish league with Igdirspor, an amateur league, earlier after finishing up with Major Soccer League team Tulsa Roughnecks and before that he played for Sacramento Republic in the US.

Kaleemullah had also been among the first players along with Muhammad Adil to sign up with a foreign club, FC Dordoi, after proving their worth in Pakistan’s domestic league and playing for the national side.
“It’s a new club, new coach, new players, it is a new challenge for me,” Kaleemullah told The Express Tribune from Najaf. “This is probably the best opportunity for me in my career. This is going to be their second phase in the league, so the first match will take place soon. I’m hoping to prove my skills here too. I want to play in Gulf countries, in the US, Europe and Russia2.”

He continued: “My ultimate dream is to play for a club whose match even Pakistani football fans can watch. I want to be in such a club that Pakistanis follow too.”

While Kaleem cleverly phrased his utmost desire to play at the biggest leagues in the world, he feels that coming to Al-Najaf is a step in the right direction, an opportunity that he did not want to miss and regret afterwards.

Al Najaf had finished sixth in the last edition of the Iraqi Premier League, and the club also played at the Asian Football Confederation Champions League in 2007.

Kaleemullah believes he would learn more about professional football in Iraq and he has high hopes to impress the fans too.

“Iraqi football fans are great. Football is the national sport in Iraq, the culture of football here is inviting, I’ve been received with open arms,” explained Kaleemullah.

He added that Al-Najaf coaches saw him play for 30 minutes at a match in Turkey, where he was invited to participate in.

“They saw me for 30 minutes, that is it and they asked if I wanted to play for them,” said Kaleemullah. “In Pakistan, the head coach said I wasn’t fit enough so he axed me out of the national team, but I see how things are different abroad, how professional coaches work. At first they told me that the deal can be of Rs4m, but I requested for more and they agreed.”

The former Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) striker has come a long way from playing in the streets of Chaman.

“When we were young, we could only dream of playing football abroad, for big clubs. I didn’t know anything about professional football in reality till I got my first break to play for FC Dordoi in 2014. It is thanks to our former national coach Zavisa Milosavljevic that he got us to Kyrgyzstan first, and then the doors opened. Now with my journey I want the young Pakistani footballers to know that they have a future. They can carve their way to the top with hard work.

He continued by ruing the opportunities forwarded by the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF). “But I know it is the opportunities that are limited because the PFF never worked on developing the domestic leagues, stadiums or on grooming the academies which can spell bright future for the footballers. There are players in the domestic set up stuck to play the game for only Rs10,000. How can you have professional players coming up without any avenues for them to prove their talent?”

He added that there may be better players than him in Pakistan, but the opportunities are not available to them.

Hurdles faced en route Iraq

Getting to Iraq was not easy for Kaleemullah. The Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat-led PFF tried to stop his transfer to Iraq in order to punish him for speaking the truth.

Kaleemullah was also wrongly chastised by the PFF last year in September for simply demanding a more professional approach by the federation.

He was threatened by the then PFF vice-president Sardar Naveed Haider Khan, who accused Kaleemullah for being ‘unpatriotic’ and ‘greedy to be playing in Turkey instead of being at the national camp’.

Whereas PFF’s second version of Kaleemulllah’s exclusion from the national side was that he was unfit, according to the Brazilian coach Jose Antonio Nogueira.

The team played at the South Asian Football Federation (Saff) Cup last year, while the U23 squad went to the Asian Games with three senior players.

Khan is also there with the newly elected body that took over the PFF in December after the Supreme Court-ordered elections, which Fifa and AFC do not recognise.

The international bodies are still backing Hayat, who will be running unopposed for the AFC vice-presidency.

The PFF had given Kaleemullah a show-cause notice for simply calling out PFF’s unprofessional approach.

“They tried to stop me yet again,” said Kaleemullah. “They wrote to the Iraqi football association, they also tried to pull string through AFC, only to find out they can’t stop me like this. I had some difficulties with the visa too, but I am grateful that all got sorted in time for me to be with my new club.

“I could have never imagined that Hayat would stoop so low, that he would try to stop a player from progressing. All I want is to play for my country. Our national team can’t participate internationally because of Hayat’s politics, now he wanted us to not to play at club level too. It was disappointing for me, very hurtful too. But I’m glad I’m out of their clutches.”

In an interview earlier this year, Hayat had called Kaleemullah a ‘has-been’.

“He would refer to me as if my career is over and they wouldn’t have me in the national team. I just want them to see that I’m here representing Pakistan, in my own capacity,” said Kaleemullah.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has also withdrawn from the AFC U23 Championship qualifiers this month.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/1924917/7-kaleemullah-agrees-rs5m-deal-iraqi-club-al-najaf/