KARACHI: Pakistan football team former captain Kaleemullah has joined Iraq’s renowned club Al-Najaf FC for the remaining four-month season of the top-tier league.
Kaleem has also practised with his new club which he had signed last month.“I have joined Al-Najaf FC four days ago and I am very happy to be here,” Kaleem told ‘The News’ from Najaf city, Iraq, on Thursday.
Iraq is one of the most important Arab football nations. Its Premier League is graded as one of the best leagues of Arab countries. The 20-team league is highly professional and is having several foreign players from around the world which adds to its strength.
“It’s a strong league, having large number of foreign players. Although I have just joined my club but what I know is that in my club four foreign players including me play. The others are from Iran, Algeria and Ghana,” Kaleem said.
Kaleem has signed Al-Najaf for a whopping amount of Rs5 million. “Initially the club wanted me for Rs4million but I told them that I would not join for less than Rs5 million. The club then responded positively and so I am here today,” the striker informed.
Kaleem was not part of Pakistan team during its international engagement last year due to certain reasons. Before joining Al-Najaf FC, Kaleem was playing amateur league in Turkey. Although it was amateur but the player says it was strong.
“It was labelled as amateur league but it was too strong,” Kaleem recalled. Before moving to Turkey Kaleem one-and-a-half year ago was playing in the United Soccer League (USL) in the United States. Kaleem turned pro when he was signed by Dordoi Bishkek, a Kyrgzstan’s club, for Rs10 million for a couple of years way back in 2014.
Former Pakistan’s Serban coach Zavisa Milosavljevic, who was Dordoi’s coach, had signed Kaleem, diminutive winger Mohammad Adil and current Pakistan captain Saddam Hussain.
Staying at a five-star hotel in the historic Najaf city in central-south Iraq, Kaleem is fairly happy with the way the club looks after its players.
Al-Najaf FC also has the honour of featuring in the AFC Champions League in 2007. Although its current standing in the Premier League is not that sound but it is hoped that with the induction of mercurial forward from Pakistan the things will get improved.
“I will try my level best to perform,” said Kaleem, who also belongs to K-Electric. “The league is being telecast live and it is my desire to make solid contributions so that I could get more better opportunity,” Kaleem said.
At a time when Pakistan is at a higher risk of going into international isolation in football due to presence of two federations, joining Al-Najaf FC will be very helpful for the Chaman-born forward to further hone his skills.
