Rising star Imran Kayani talks about representing Pakistan in football

22-year-old footballer shares his story of playing for Pakistan and his aspirations to make it in the European leagues

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Pakistan footballer Imran Kayani shared his journey and aspirations in an exclusive interview with The Express Tribune.

"Ever since I can remember, I enjoyed watching players score goals. It was my dream to play at the highest level possible," Imran said, expressing his long-standing passion for football.

Inspired by greats like Ronaldo, he stated, "Players like Ronaldo and others really inspired me. That’s why I wanted to make it to the game and play it professionally."

Reflecting on his background, the 22-year-old, who was born in England, acknowledged his South Asian roots, saying, "To be honest, I come from a South Asian family. I am touched by my roots. Obviously, I was born here in the UK, but I’ll always be called a Pakistani, and Pakistan is close to my heart."

In August 2023, Kayani announced his intention to play for Pakistan, his country of heritage. By November 2023, he was called up by the Pakistan national team for the second round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

He made his international debut on 16 November 2023 as a substitute against Saudi Arabia in a 4–0 away defeat. Since then, he has played six matches for the Pakistan football team.

Representing his country holds a special place in his heart. "When this opportunity came, I was really happy. It’s an honour playing for your country, to represent my country. Recently playing with the national team, it’s really nice going in a good direction, and I am really excited for the future," Imran shared.

Imran is dedicated to achieving his ambitious goals, saying, "Obviously, I want to play in the highest league possible. My long-term goal is to play in the European league and I am just going to keep working hard."

He emphasised the importance of discipline and hard work, advising, "First, control everything: your diet, nutrition, sleep, training, recovery. Pray as much as you can to the best of your ability. If you are doing as much as you can, leave everything to Allah. It’s not easy, but one of the things you can control is how hard you work in your team. Make sure you are the hardest worker in your team, so you can achieve your dreams."

Imran remains humble despite his achievements and aspirations.

"I think I’m just a normal guy. I don’t think I’m better than anyone, but if people can relate to me, it’s my big dream to inspire younger people. I’m really happy to work hard, and like I said, I pray to Allah. I want to be the best example I can be for the next generations."