Kaleemullah signs two-year contract with FC Dordoi [Express Tribune]

Natasha Raheel – Express Tribune

KARACHI: 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