Saqib Hanif

Pakistani footballer (born 1994)
Saqib Hanif
Personal information
Date of birth (1994-04-23) 23 April 1994 (age 30)
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

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]

Club career

Early career

Hanif 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

Hanif 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

In 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

He moved to the Maldivian club Maalhos in 2018.[7][8]

Sui Southern Gas

He returned shortly after to Pakistan, joining SSGC FC.[9]

Foakaidhoo

He signed for Foakaidhoo FC in Maldives in June 2019.[9]

TC Sports

Hanif had a short stint at TC Sports Club.[10] 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.[11][12] 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.[11]

Green Streets & return to Sui Southern Gas

Hanif moved to Club Green Streets in 2020.[12] 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.[13] He returned to the Maldivian club later on.[14]

Victory SC

In October 2023, Hanif moved to Victory Sports Club.[15] 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.[16][17] The club eventually fell against Masodi SC in final by 2–3, with both finalists achieving their promotion to the top-tier.[18]

International career

Hanif represented Pakistan at youth level as a midfielder in the Asian U-13 Championship 2005.[19][20]

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.[21] He made his senior international debut in 2013, in a friendly against Afghanistan at the age of 19.[22] He was later called against Bangladesh in the 2013 SAFF Championship.[23] He also played for the national under-23 team at the 2018 Asian Games as vice-captain.[24]

Career statistics

International

As of 28 June 2023[22]
National team Year Apps Goals
Pakistan 2013 2 0
2014 2 0
2015 1 0
2023 3 0
Total 8 0

Honours

Khan Research Laboratories

References

  1. ^ "Saqib Hanif". globalsportsarchive.com. Global Sports Archive. January 13, 2018. Archived from the original on January 28, 2022. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  2. ^ Raheel, Natasha (2016-04-28). "Save goalkeepers to save football: If he is being ignored, you know he's a keeper". The Express Tribune. Archived from the original on 2023-02-06. Retrieved 2023-07-12.
  3. ^ Wasim, Umaid (2016-04-13). "Saqib hopes to impress during Maldives stint". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on 2023-07-12. Retrieved 2023-07-12.
  4. ^ Editorial Staff (2012-12-12). "Saqib Hanif likely to join Dhaka Mohammedan". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Archived from the original on 2023-07-12. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
  5. ^ "Saqib to sign contract with major Maldives club". www.thenews.com.pk. 9 April 2016. Archived from the original on 2023-07-12. Retrieved 2023-07-12.
  6. ^ Raheel, Natasha (2016-07-19). "Goalie Hanif impresses Maldives' club manager". The Express Tribune. Archived from the original on 2016-07-20. Retrieved 2023-07-12.
  7. ^ Editorial Staff (2018-03-19). "Maalhos sign Pakistan goalkeeper Saqib Hanif". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Archived from the original on 2023-07-12. Retrieved 2023-07-12.
  8. ^ "Saqib flies off to Maldives to play in Dhivehi Premier League". www.thenews.com.pk. 28 March 2018. Archived from the original on 2023-07-12. Retrieved 2023-07-12.
  9. ^ a b Safi, Alam Zeb (23 February 2019). "Saqib enjoying playing in Maldives football league". www.thenews.com.pk. Archived from the original on 2023-07-12. Retrieved 2023-07-12.
  10. ^ 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 2023-07-12. Retrieved 2023-07-12.
  11. ^ a b Staff, Editorial (2020-04-08). "Pakistan goalkeeper quarantined twice [The News]". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  12. ^ a b Editorial Staff (2020-10-22). "Saqib Hanif joins Maldives side Club Green Streets". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Archived from the original on 2023-07-12. Retrieved 2023-07-12.
  13. ^ Staff, Editorial (2020-12-15). "Saqib shootout hero for SSGC in Challenge Cup". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  14. ^ "Saqib Hanif reports for national camp". The News International. 2 September 2022. Archived from the original on 2022-09-02. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
  15. ^ Saqib Hanif [@saqibSH33] (October 8, 2023). "New challenge ahead season 2023-2024 maldives side victory sports club 👊♥️🇵🇰🇲🇻" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. ^ "Victory SC defeats New Radiant to return to the Dhivehi Premier League". Victory Sports Club. Archived from the original on 2024-03-11. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  17. ^ "Victory Advances to First Division". The Edition. Archived from the original on 2024-03-11. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  18. ^ "Mas Odi SC defeats Victory SC to lift the title". Victory Sports Club. Archived from the original on 2024-03-11. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  19. ^ "Asian U-13 Championship 2005". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 2023-06-20. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  20. ^ "Under-13 soccer squad leaves for Bangladesh". DAWN.COM. 2005-03-30. Archived from the original on 2024-02-06. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  21. ^ Editorial Staff (2012-07-09). "Saqib Hanif termed a great asset for Pakistan". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Archived from the original on 2023-07-12. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
  22. ^ a b Saqib Hanif at National-Football-Teams.com
  23. ^ "BANGLADESH 1-2 PAKISTAN". us.soccerway.com. Soccerway. September 5, 2013. Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  24. ^ "National football squad for Asian games announced". The Nation. Archived from the original on 2018-08-20. Retrieved 2023-08-03.

External links

  • Biography portal
  • iconAssociation football portal
  • flagPakistan portal
  • Saqib Hanif at National-Football-Teams.com
  • Saqib Hanif at Soccerway
  • Saqib Hanif at Global Sports Archive