Saqib Hanif (born 23 April 1994) is a Pakistani professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Dhivehi Premier League club Victory Sports Club and the Pakistan national team.[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 23 April 1994 | ||
| Place of birth | Bannu, Pakistan | ||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Victory SC | ||
| Number | 1 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2009–2011 | Pak Elektron | 56 | (0) |
| 2011–2012 | Zarai Taraqiati | 7 | (0) |
| 2012–2016 | Khan Research Laboratories | 33 | (0) |
| 2016–2018 | B.G. | 11 | (0) |
| 2018 | A. A. Maalhos | 6 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | Sui Southern Gas | 12 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | Foakaidhoo | ||
| 2020 | T.C. Sports Club | ||
| 2020 | Green Streets | ||
| 2020–2021 | Sui Southern Gas | ||
| 2021–2023 | Green Streets | ||
| 2023– | Victory SC | ||
| International career‡ | |||
| 2012–2018 | Pakistan U23 | ||
| 2013– | Pakistan | 8 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11 October 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11 July 2023 | |||
Club career
editEarly career
editHanif played as a forward in his youth until making his switch as a goalkeeper.[2] He subsequently played for PEL FC and Zarai Taraqiati in senior level.
Khan Research Laboratories
editHanif signed for Khan Research Laboratories in 2012, where he won two successive Pakistan Premier Football League titles from 2012 to 2014.[3] In 2012, he was offered a playing contract from Dhaka Mahommedan in the Bangladesh Premier League, but it seemingly failed to materialise.[4]
BG Sports
editIn 2016, Hanif signed for the Maldives football team B.G. Sports Club.[5] He earned the man-of-the-match award for BG Sports at the Dhivehi Premier League on a match against Club Valencia.[6]
Maalhos
editHe moved to the Maldivian club Maalhos in 2018.[7]
Sui Southern Gas
editHe returned shortly after to Pakistan, joining SSGC FC.[8]
Foakaidhoo
editHe signed for Foakaidhoo FC in Maldives in June 2019.[8]
TC Sports
editHanif had a short stint at TC Sports Club.[9] He was quarantined in the Maldives soon after he along with his team reached Male. The team was returning to Maldives via Colombo after playing the 2020 AFC Cup against Bangladesh’s Bashundhara Kings on March 11 in Dhaka.[10] When the team reached Colombo, Maldives’ government told them to live in quarantine before coming to Maldives. When the team spent its quarantine in Colombo a lockdown started and so Saqib and his teammates spent around 25 days in the Sri Lankan capital.[10]
Green Streets & return to Sui Southern Gas
editHanif moved to Club Green Streets in 2020. By the end of the year, Hanif returned to SSGC participating in the 2020 PFF National Challenge Cup. He helped the side reach the semi-finals, after his performance in the penalty shootout against Pakistan Air Force, until eventually finishing as runner-ups of the tournament. He returned to the Maldivian club later on.[11]
Victory SC
editIn October 2023, Hanif moved to Victory Sports Club.[12] He played a key role for the club in achieving their promotion to the Dhivehi Premier League after four years, after defeating New Radiant in the semi-final of the Maldivian Second Division Football Tournament by 2–0.[13][14] The club eventually fell against Masodi Sports Club in final by 2–3, with both finalists achieving their promotion to the top-tier.[15]
International career
editHanif represented Pakistan at youth level as a midfielder in the Asian U-13 Championship 2005.[16][17]
Hanif was first called by the international coach Zaviša Milosavljević in 2012 to represent the Pakistan national under-23 team in the 2013 AFC U-22 qualifiers, where he was praised by the coach due to his performance. He made his senior international debut in 2013, in a friendly against Afghanistan at the age of 19.[18] He was later called against Bangladesh in the 2013 SAFF Championship.[19] He also played for the national under-23 team at the 2018 Asian Games as vice-captain.[20]
Career statistics
editInternational
edit- As of 28 June 2023[18]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 2013 | 2 | 0 |
| 2014 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 8 | 0 | |
Honours
editKhan Research Laboratories
References
edit- ^ "Saqib Hanif". globalsportsarchive.com. Global Sports Archive. 13 January 2018. Archived from the original on 28 January 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
- ^ Raheel, Natasha (28 April 2016). "Save goalkeepers to save football: If he is being ignored, you know he's a keeper". The Express Tribune. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
- ^ Wasim, Umaid (13 April 2016). "Saqib hopes to impress during Maldives stint". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on 12 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
- ^ "Saqib likely to be signed by Dhaka Mohammedan - thenews.com.pk". 12 December 2012. Archived from the original on 12 December 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
- ^ "Saqib to sign contract with major Maldives club". www.thenews.com.pk. 9 April 2016. Archived from the original on 12 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
- ^ Raheel, Natasha (19 July 2016). "Goalie Hanif impresses Maldives' club manager". The Express Tribune. Archived from the original on 20 July 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
- ^ "Saqib flies off to Maldives to play in Dhivehi Premier League". www.thenews.com.pk. 28 March 2018. Archived from the original on 12 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
- ^ a b Safi, Alam Zeb (23 February 2019). "Saqib enjoying playing in Maldives football league". www.thenews.com.pk. Archived from the original on 12 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
- ^ Safi, Alam Zeb (26 April 2020). "Saqib wants big football events to attract attention of public, media". www.thenews.com.pk. Archived from the original on 12 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
- ^ a b "Pakistan goalkeeper quarantined twice". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
- ^ "Saqib Hanif reports for national camp". The News International. 2 September 2022. Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
- ^ Saqib Hanif [@saqibSH33] (8 October 2023). "New challenge ahead season 2023-2024 maldives side victory sports club 👊♥️🇵🇰🇲🇻" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Victory SC defeats New Radiant to return to the Dhivehi Premier League". Victory Sports Club. Archived from the original on 11 March 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
- ^ "Victory Advances to First Division". The Edition. Archived from the original on 11 March 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
- ^ "Mas Odi SC defeats Victory SC to lift the title". Victory Sports Club. Archived from the original on 11 March 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
- ^ "Asian U-13 Championship 2005". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ "Under-13 soccer squad leaves for Bangladesh". DAWN.COM. 30 March 2005. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ a b Saqib Hanif at National-Football-Teams.com
- ^ "BANGLADESH 1-2 PAKISTAN". us.soccerway.com. Soccerway. 5 September 2013. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
- ^ "National football squad for Asian games announced". The Nation. 10 August 2018. Archived from the original on 20 August 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
External links
edit
- Saqib Hanif at National-Football-Teams.com
- Saqib Hanif at Soccerway
- Saqib Hanif at Global Sports Archive