Saqib flies off to Maldives to play in Dhivehi Premier League

KARACHI: Pakistan’s frontline goalkeeper Saqib Hanif on Tuesday left for Maldives to represent Maalhos FC for this season’s Dhivehi Premier League which begins next month.

“I have recently signed a contract with the club and I am very much thankful to them for choosing me for the season,” Saqib told ‘The News’ from Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore on Tuesday.

He said that he will live up to the expectations of the club management. “I am super fit and will perform well,” he was quick to add. Saqib was also part of the BG Sports, a club from Maldives, during the 2016 and 2017 seasons. After FIFA lifted suspension it had imposed on Pakistan a few days ago Saqib is the first footballer to fly abroad for playing in a league.

The country’s star striker Kaleemullah plays in Turkey, while Saddam Hussain plays in Cyprus. A few years ago when Pakistan’s football was promoting a bunch of national footballers had been hired by Kyrgyzstan’s Dordoi Bishkek which had been managed by former Pakistan’s Serbian coach Zavisa Malosavljevic.