Kaleem signs for Iraq’s Al-Najaf FC

KARACHI: Pakistan’s ace footballer Kaleemullah has almost finalised deal with Iraq’s top-tier football club Al-Najaf FC, sources close to the player said on Monday.

“Kaleem has almost entered into a deal with Iraq’s renowned club Al-Najaf, which also have the experience of playing in the AFC Champions League,” a source close to Chaman-born striker told ‘The News’.

This correspondent learnt that Kaleem was busy preparing documents for finalising his deal with the club.“As Iraq’s league is almost past half-way stage, the club has signed Kaleem when he will only be able to play matches for the club for the remaining four months,” the source revealed.

Before entering into negotiation with Al-Najaf, Kaleem was playing amateur football in Turkey.Sources said the contract with Al-Najaf will fetch huge money for the former Pakistan’s captain.

Before joining Turkish club, Kaleem was playing for a professional club in the United Soccer League (USL). Kaleem shot to fame when he was signed by Kyrgyzstan’s Dodoi Bishkek for a handsome purse of Rs10 million in 2014-15. It was former Pakistan’s Serbian coach Zavisa Milosavljevic, who had signed Kaleem for his club which later became national champions.

Pakistan’s diminutive winger Mohammad Adil and Pakistan’s current skipper Saddam Hussain were the others who were signed by Dordoi.However, Kaleem left the club and moved to USA to play in the USL that further benefited him in his career as a professional footballer.