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[1]) is a Pakistani professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Pakistan Premier League club Khan Research Laboratories and the Pakistan national team.
Early life[edit]
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[edit]
Early career[edit]
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[edit]
Ali started playing for Baloch Quetta in 2014.[4] In 2016, Ali won the Balochistan cup with Quetta,[5] scoring a goal in a 8–2 victory against Jaffarabad.[6][7] In 2016, Ali also played for the Pakistan Police department in the 2016 Pakistan Football Federation Cup.[2]
Khan Research Laboratories[edit]
Impressed by his performance, Pakistan Premier League departmental side Khan Research Laboratories extended an invitation for him to join their ranks in 2017.[8][2]
International career[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
International[edit]
- As of 17 November 2023[1]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 2023 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 2 | 0 | |
References[edit]
- ^ 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.