Rajab Ali (footballer)

Rajab Ali (born 11 December 1999)[1] is a Pakistani footballer who currently plays for KRL in the Pakistan Premier League and the Pakistan national team.

Rajab Ali
Personal information
Full name Rajab Ali Hazara
Date of birth (1999-12-11) 11 December 1999
Place of birth Quetta, Pakistan
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2017 Baloch Quetta F.C.
2016 Pakistan Police F.C.
2017– KRL
International career‡
2013–2014 Pakistan U17
2023– Pakistan 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:00, 14 October 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:00, 14 October 2023 (UTC)

Early life

Belonging to the ethnic Hazara community, Rajab was born in Quetta in the Balochistan province of Pakistan. At the age of 10, Rajab started to pursue his football aspirations.[2] Initially, his family hoped to prioritize his studies, but Ali remained dedicated to football despite the scarcity of resources for the sport.[2]

Club career

Ali started his football career following an announcement about an under-13 tournament and successfully made it into the Balochistan under-13 football team.[2] He continued his path by also playing for the under-14 and under-15 teams.[3]

However, when the under-16 championship was scheduled in Mali Bagh in Quetta, Ali's parents expressed concerns about security issues in Balochistan, leading them to hesitate about allowing him to prepare for the championship.[2] Despite the opposition from his family, Ali persevered and attended the 10-day training camp. His determination bore fruit when he earned a spot in the Balochistan Championship and subsequently journeyed to Lahore Football House[2]

On 2016, Ali won the Balochistan cup with Baloch Quetta,[4] scoring a goal in a 8–2 victory against Jaffarabad.[5][6] In 2016, Ali also played for the Pakistan Police department in the National Champion Challenge Cup.[2]

Impressed by his performance, Pakistan Premier League club KRL extended an invitation for him to join their ranks in 2017.[7][2]

International career

Ali was first selected for the Pakistan under-16 team for the 2013 SAFF U-16 Championship held in Nepal.[8][9][10] He was subsequently made captain for the 2014 AFC U-16 Championship qualification.[11][12] Ali also participated in the 2014 edition of the Street Child World Cup held in Brazil.[13][14]

He made his senior international debut on 12 October 2023 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Cambodia, which ended in a 0–0 draw.[15]

Personal life

In 2014, Ali opened the Hazara Football Academy, intended as a training academy due to the lack of resources in football.[2]

Initially, the academy only trained men players. In 2020, the academy expanded the training program to women players. It is providing a future for players who play on the streets instead of playing in football stadiums.[2]

Career statistics

International
As of 14 October 2023[1]
National team Year Apps Goals
Pakistan 2023 1 0
Total 1 0

References
  1. Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Rajab Ali (Player)". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  2. "A shining Hazara football player of Quetta • Quetta Voice Breaking News, English News, Technology, Health". Quetta Voice Breaking News, English News, Technology, Health. 2023-02-26. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  3. Staff, Editorial (2012-02-04). "Day 1 results National U14 Championship 2012". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  4. Staff, Editorial (2016-08-13). "Balochistan Cup: Quetta declared province's champions [Express Tribune]". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  5. Staff, Editorial (2016-08-11). "Balochistan Cup: Resilient Quetta beat Jaffarabad 8-2". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  6. Naveed, Malik Riaz Hai (2016-08-11). "Quarterfinal Update PPL Balochistan Football Cup". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  7. Staff, Editorial (2017-12-12). "KRL crowned champions of 1st Naya Nazimabad Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah Departmental Football Tournament". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  8. Staff, Editorial (2013-06-27). "Probables for U16 SAFF Cup camp announced". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  9. Staff, Editorial (2013-07-13). "Coach hopes Pak U16 team will defend title". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  10. Staff, Editorial (2013-07-20). "Pakistan U16s begin title defence [The News]". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  11. "Rajab Ali Hazara to lead under 16 Pakistan Football team as captain". Hazara.net. 2013-09-24. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  12. Staff, Editorial (2013-09-25). "AFC U-16 qualifiers set to kick off today [DAWN]". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  13. Staff, Editorial (2014-03-20). "Football rejuvenates street children, ready for World Cup [Express Tribune]". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  14. Abbasi, Kashif (2014-05-15). "Street footballers share their stories from Karachi to Rio". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  15. Staff, Editorial (2023-10-12). "FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier: Pakistan, Cambodia first leg ends goalless [Geo Super]". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2023-10-13.
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