Goalie Hanif impresses Maldives’ club manager

Pakistan footballer had earned man-of-the-match award with BG Sports in last game

KARACHI: BG Sports Club manager Muhammad Shazly wants to retain Pakistan’s national goalkeeper Saqib Hanif for another season after impressive performances by the 22-year-old in Maldives’ football league.

The youngster earned the man-of-the-match award for BG Sports, with whom he signed a contract in April, at the Dhivehi Premier League (DPL) on Saturday evening against Club Valencia.

Shazly claims that Hanif’s learning speed during his debut season for the club has been amazing and added that the Bannu-based custodian is benefiting from the opportunity.





“He’s been fantastic,” Shazly told The Express Tribune. “He was only lacking in international experience, and now he is gaining that with us. He is a sound goalkeeper; I feel he has improved since he’s been here.”

The manager emphasised that playing in Maldives guarantees good exposure as they have players coming from Africa, Europe and a number of countries in Asia.

“I’ll definitely want to sign Hanif for another season. I want my club to win the trophy and Hanif has become an important part of our team.”



Meanwhile, Hanif believes his performance against Club Valencia was a result of his determination to make up for conceding three goals from Club Valencia in their previous encounter.

“I told myself before the match that if our strikers can’t score, I’ll make sure I don’t concede any goal either,” said Hanif.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19^th, 2016.

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