By Natasha Raheel – Express Tribune
KARACHI: Picked up by US Soccer League’s Sacramento Republic for a four-month contract in June, Pakistan national striker Kaleemullah, who has so far failed to find the back of the net, remains upbeat after completing the first two months with the US’s third-tier division club.
The 22-year-old has been part of the 33-member squad of Sacramento and even with seven strikers in the roster, has made a name for himself and proved his credentials to be considered in the top-18 of every match.
The striker, who is yet to score for Sacramento, believes that the number of goals do not define a player’s worth as football is more about team play rather than individual goals.
“I know everyone related to me wants to see me score. I want it too, but it’s more about the team than me,” Kaleemullah told The Express Tribune. “We have a very competitive side and I’m learning the American style-of-play and adapting to it. Every player needs time to adjust.”
The Chaman-born striker went on to praise the trust his coach has in his abilities. “The fact that I have featured on the bench for all the matches shows the trust that coach Paul Buckle has in me,” he said. “In the last match against Colorado Springs Switchbacks, I was selected in the starting line-up and I played till the 61st minute, after which I was substituted.”
Buckle recently joined Sacramento after previous coach, Preki Radosavljevic, who signed Kaleemullah, left the club last month and the youngster believes that his relationship with the new coach is even stronger than with the previous one. “Buckle is extremely supportive and he trusts me. He doesn’t discriminate and instead tests me purely on merit. He respects the players and it doesn’t matter to him where we came from as long as we are ready to work hard,” said the former KRL striker.
Kaleemullah hopes he would get an extension on his contract once it ends and believes that he can be a valuable asset to Sacramento, who are ninth in the league, as they bid to improve on last season’s performance.
“The coaches here are monitoring my progress. I know something good will come my way when the contract ends,” concluded Kaleemullah.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 17th, 2015.
I have watched all of Kaleem’s matches so far, and to be quite frank, he does not fit well with the Sacramento Republic’s style of play. Yes, he has pace and he works hard, but he also needs to work on moving to the ball instead of running away from the ball. Running away from the ball works in Pakistan’s long ball style of play, but with Sacramento Republic’s short passing game, Kaleem needs to move towards the ball. He also needs to work on his passing and shooting.
Thats true. But he played adequateky well in Dordoi which can be regarded as intermediate of Pakistan and USA style. He still needs to learn a lot but he is definitely on next level and his move at this early age may allow him to learn.
Hmmmmm and goals do count, although may not accurately. This is what made him special at KRL and Dordoi Bikshesh ;-)
Bishkek is the only team who can play bit of football in the Krgz league, which is not too far from Pakistan league, so anybody can score in those league. Why is he praising Paul Buckle? who did not start him in few games and was made a sub when Prekki gave him more playing time. I think Kaleem is indenial and delluded about the coach, that coach is English, who discrminate against Pakistanis all the time, man Kaleem is so naive. He needs to come back to KRL where he was strong.
He shouldn’t come back to KRl rather he should opt to play in central asian leagues or middle east leagues.He can do better there.