Pakistan’s top striker Kaleemullah signed a two-year contract worth Rs10 million with Kyrgyzstan’s FC Dordoi after impressing the club officials in less than five months.
The 22-year-old scored 17 goals in 16 matches to become the highest scorer in the Kyrgyzstan national league. He also struck the net in the final of the local Super Cup, leading FC Dordoi to a 3-2 victory against Alga FC.
The Chaman-based striker has now become the most expensive player in the Kyrgyzstan league; he is also the first Pakistani footballer to sign such a deal internationally.
“It is a big honour to become the first Pakistani to sign a contract like this, and I think it’s the right decision for me,” Kaleemullah told The Express Tribune.
“We’ve just finished our season here on July 12, and now I’m positive that I want to stay with FC Dordoi. The signing for Rs10 million till 2016 has made my future secure.
“Ever since I joined this club, my focus had been to score and prove my talent. I believe that this is just the beginning for me.”
Kaleemullah was transferred to FC Dordoi from KRL FC in February. The striker is also the only player in the Pakistan Premier Football League history to score 35 goals in a single campaign. He achieved that with KRL in the 2012-13 season, and continued to play for the Rawalpindi-based club till signing the Kyrgyz offer.
The youngster is also the only foreign player out of four in the Kyrgyzstan league to score a hat-trick.
“FC Dordoi have also been the Asian Football Confederation President’s Cup Champions as well. They have been one of the best clubs in central Asia, so I’m glad that my five-month contract was extended this way,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 16th, 2014.
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Though I haven't seen him play but his stats speak up for themselves and the guy has impressive physique as well. Good luck Kaleemullah!
All the best guy. Great news.
Good to read, hopefully will lead to other players getting similar deals.
Congrats to him!
Great. Well done young boy. You have our support.
@Adeel: Your comment is demeaning. If you have a Pakistani passport and you are travelling on that passport around the world then you are a Pakistani. Zesh have a Pakistani Passport and afterwards no argument is valid that who is more Pakistani than the other.
@Jawed: There are a dozen or more Footballers of Pakistani origin and they playing in many leagues. One blog on ET was written about it. Unfortunately due to narrow minded thinking of Pakistanis nobody is allowing them to play for Pakistani football team.
http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/20462/10-footballers-of-pakistani-descent-who-have-made-us-proud/
@Chachoo: He is the most expensive player in the Kyrgz league. Zesh didn't play there. But yes, Zesh is probably the most expensive Pakistani player.
Awesome news. May he do really well. BTW Muhammal Adil (Winger) is also playing for Dordoi: http://www.dawn.com/news/1083822
This will surely open doors to many opportunities for Pakistani footballers. Really proud of him.
He was initially offered a one year contract of $2500 / month but he asked for 6 months to prove himself first due to which was offered lesser package of $2000 / month. He deserves this contract now.
Pray for his continued success and may he now accept his responsibility of being an ambassador of Pakistan (not mess up / slip / seek asylum).
This man has some serious goal scoring talent, I think PFF should contact the Pakistani owner of Fulham FC, (Mr. Shahid Khan) to arrange a trial for him and If he makes his way to the English Football that would give a much needed boost to the Pakistani Football.
@Chachoo... Zeesh Rehman was a british national and took up pakistani nationaility to have a national color. Kaleem is an indigenous talent and deserve special mentioning
Good for him and Pakistani football as a whole. Youngsters won't adopt this sports until they see financial attraction in the game as well.
Good to hear. All the best!
It is wrong to say that he is the first Pakistani to sign such a deal Internationally. There are other players as well. Zesh Rehman have a more expensive deal and he has a Pakistani Passport as well. http://www.zeshrehman.com/