MOSCOW: Football might be suspended in Pakistan in wake of the infighting in the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) but national team winger Mohammad Adil has managed to sign for Australian club.
It’s a short-term deal, which will see him play ten matches till the end of next month, but the stocky 24-year-old hopes his move to Hawkesbury City FC — who currently play in the fourth-tier of the state championship in New South Wales — will open new doors for him.
“Getting regular playing time [which is not possible in Pakistan as the Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) has been suspended for two years] is very important and I’m glad I can get that here,” Adil told Dawn from Hawkesbury in New South Wales.
“It might be a fourth-tier club but it has a very good structure and I hope that will be helpful in furthering my career.”
It could’ve all been so different had Adil obtained his visa to travel to Australia in time. Back in December, he received an offer for a trial by Blacktown City FC, who feature in the NSW Premier League — the top division in New South Wales, which is a subdivision of Australian second-tier National Premier Leagues.
The A-League is Australia’s top football competition but with it having a franchise system, there is no system of relegation and promotion.
A trial and a subsequent contract with Blacktown, though, could’ve seen Adil playing at a bigger stage and maybe attract attention of A-League sides with good performances.
But by the time he got his visa to travel to Australia, it was too late.
“Blacktown’s mid-season break had ended and they were four months into the second half of the season so there was no possibility of a trial,” said Adil.
“Hawkesbury came in at that point and I couldn’t say no. I just want to play and show how good I am.”
Key to arranging the deals for Adil was Ahmed Akber Khan, an Australia-based footballer of Pakistani origin who has played for Pakistan Air Force (PAF), winning the National Challenge Cup with them in 2014.
“Ahmed has been great support,” Adil added. “But for me, whatever I’ve achieved, I couldn’t have done it without Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) and the backing of [manager] Ayaz Butt.”
Starring for KRL with whom he won three successive PPFL titles, Adil was signed up by Kyrgyz giants FC Dordoi in 2014. He spent two years in Bishkek before a visa issue in 2016 saw a move to Maltese side Pembroke Athleta collapse.
His contract with Hawkesbury is inexplicably linked to his visa, which ends on July 25. But he’s hoping he can get an extension and try out for Blacktown when their season ends next month.
“That’s what I’m hoping for,” he said. “It will be great if I that falls into place.”
Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2017
