Kaleemullah nets his first goal since USA move

Published May 1, 2016
Kaleemullah, who hails from Chaman, signed up with Tulsa Roughnecks in December last year. — Taimoor Khan/File
Kaleemullah, who hails from Chaman, signed up with Tulsa Roughnecks in December last year. — Taimoor Khan/File

Pakistan attacker Kaleemullah Khan, on Saturday, netted his first United Soccer League (USL) goal, but still could not help his team, Tulsa Roughnecks, avoid a 3-1 defeat against San Antonio FC.

Kaleemullah, who hails from Chaman, signed up with Tulsa Roughnecks in December last year and is mostly used as a squad player by the American side.

Kaleem ended the Oklahoma based side’s three-match goal drought in the 49th minute with a simple tap in, after fellow forward Sammy Ochoa played in a low cross for the Pakistan international who made a well-timed run to make perfect contact with the ball to slot it past San Antonio goalkeeper Josh Ford.

The former Pakistan captain played the last USL season for Sacramento Republic FC which is based in California.

A number of factors, including a coaching change, restricted Kaleemullah to feature in just seven matches for the Republic.

“I am extremely humbled by the opportunity that has been given to me by Tulsa. They are a great team and play eye-catching football,” Kaleemullah said while talking to Dawn when he signed for the Roughnecks.

“I am a quick learner and after spending some time with Sacramento Republic, I have learned a lot about American style of play so I’m sure I will be in a stronger position to play well for my new team.”

Opinion

Editorial

Anti-women state
Updated 25 Nov, 2024

Anti-women state

GLOBALLY, women are tormented by the worst tools of exploitation: rape, sexual abuse, GBV, IPV, and more are among...
IT sector concerns
25 Nov, 2024

IT sector concerns

PRIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s ambitious plan to increase Pakistan’s IT exports from $3.2bn to $25bn in the ...
Israel’s war crimes
25 Nov, 2024

Israel’s war crimes

WHILE some powerful states are shielding Israel from censure, the court of global opinion is quite clear: there is...
Short-changed?
Updated 24 Nov, 2024

Short-changed?

As nations continue to argue, the international community must recognise that climate finance is not merely about numbers.
Overblown ‘threat’
24 Nov, 2024

Overblown ‘threat’

ON the eve of the PTI’s ‘do or die’ protest in the federal capital, there seemed to be little evidence of the...
Exclusive politics
24 Nov, 2024

Exclusive politics

THERE has been a gradual erasure of the voices of most marginalised groups from Pakistan’s mainstream political...