Rajab Ali (footballer)
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Rajab Ali Hazara | ||
Date of birth | 6 March 1997 | ||
Place of birth | Quetta, Pakistan | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2014–2017 | Baloch Quetta | ||
2016 |
Pakistan Police | ||
2017– |
Khan Research Laboratories | ||
International career‡ | |||
2013–2014 | Pakistan U17 | ||
2023– | Pakistan | 2 | (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, 17 November 2023 (UTC) |
Rajab Ali (born 6 March 1997
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
Early 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]
Baloch Quetta
Ali started playing for
Khan Research Laboratories
Impressed by his performance,
International career
Ali was first selected for the Pakistan under-16 team for the 2013 SAFF U-16 Championship held in Nepal.[9][10][11] He was subsequently made captain for the 2014 AFC U-16 Championship qualification.[12][13] Ali also participated in the 2014 edition of the Street Child World Cup held in Brazil.[14][15]
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.[16]
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 17 November 2023[1]
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Pakistan
|
2023 | 2 | 0 |
Total | 2 | 0 |
References
- ^ a b Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Rajab Ali (Player)". national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "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.
- ^ Editorial Staff (2012-02-04). "Day 1 results National U14 Championship 2012". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2023-10-13.
- ^ "Rajab Ali - Soccer player profile & career statistics - Global Sports Archive". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
- ^ Editorial Staff (2016-08-13). "Balochistan Cup: Quetta declared province's champions [Express Tribune]". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2023-10-13.
- ^ Editorial Staff (2016-08-11). "Balochistan Cup: Resilient Quetta beat Jaffarabad 8-2". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2023-10-13.
- ^ Naveed, Malik Riaz Hai (2016-08-11). "Quarterfinal Update PPL Balochistan Football Cup". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2023-10-13.
- ^ Editorial Staff (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.
- ^ Editorial Staff (2013-06-27). "Probables for U16 SAFF Cup camp announced". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2023-10-13.
- ^ Editorial Staff (2013-07-13). "Coach hopes Pak U16 team will defend title". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2023-10-13.
- ^ Editorial Staff (2013-07-20). "Pakistan U16s begin title defence [The News]". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2023-10-13.
- ^ "Rajab Ali Hazara to lead under 16 Pakistan Football team as captain". Hazara.net. 2013-09-24. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
- ^ Editorial Staff (2013-09-25). "AFC U-16 qualifiers set to kick off today [DAWN]". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2023-10-13.
- ^ Editorial Staff (2014-03-20). "Football rejuvenates street children, ready for World Cup [Express Tribune]". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2023-10-13.
- ^ Abbasi, Kashif (2014-05-15). "Street footballers share their stories from Karachi to Rio". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
- ^ Editorial Staff (2023-10-12). "FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier: Pakistan, Cambodia first leg ends goalless [Geo Super]". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2023-10-13.