PPFL golden-boot Rasool to sign for Qatar giants

KARACHI: Pakistan’s experienced yet discarded international striker Mohammad Rasool is likely to ink a deal with Qatar’s renowned club Al-Arabi Sports Club.
Sources close to the player told ‘The News’ on Saturday that former Nigerian star-footballer Jay-Jay Okocha is acting as an agent for the Chitral-born striker.
The contracts of Nigerian players Oludeyi Sunday and Wilson Segun with K-Electric had also been finalised by Okocha.
Sources said that it was highly likely that 29-year-old Rasool would enter into a deal with a club that has great history in Qatar’s football.
Al-Arabi Sports Club have won Qatar’s Stars League seven times and finished as runners-up on one occasion.
Sources said that the contract could be lucrative, as it was expected that Rasool would earn around $5000 monthly.
If finalised, it would be a great boost for Rasool at a stage when he was not invited to Pakistan team preparing camp for the World Cup qualifiers.
Rasool also inspired K-Electric to their maiden Pakistan Premier League title recently, finishing as the league’s top scorer with 22 goals in the 12-team marathon.
Sources added that Rasool had been preparing hard for his expected stint with Al-Arabi.
Rasool has a vast experience of international football and is a professional who never complained whenever he was dropped by any coach during his international career.
If Al-Arabi signed Rasool, he would be Pakistan’s fifth homegrown footballer who would play in foreign league.
The country’s star-striker Kaleemullah, midfielder Saddam Hussain and nimble-footed winger Mohammad Adil play for Kyrgyzstan’s champions Dordoi FC being managed by former Pakistan coach Zavisa Milosavljevic of Serbia, while WAPDA’s defender Mohammad Ahmed plays for Bahraini club ISA Town FC.