Saqib Hanif Explained

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]

Sui Southern Gas

He returned shortly after to Pakistan, joining SSGC FC.^[8]

Foakaidhoo

He signed for Foakaidhoo FC in Maldives in June 2019.

TC Sports

Hanif 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.

Green Streets & return to Sui Southern Gas

Hanif 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

In 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

Hanif 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. He was later called against Bangladesh in the 2013 SAFF Championship.^[18] He also played for the national under-23 team at the 2018 Asian Games as vice-captain.^[19]

Career statistics

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year!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

• Pakistan Premier League

2012–13, 2013–14

• National Football Challenge Cup

2012, 2015, 2016

Notes and References

1. Web site: Saqib Hanif . Global Sports Archive . January 13, 2018 . globalsportsarchive.com . March 20, 2019 . January 28, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220128125247/https://globalsportsarchive.com/people/soccer/saqib-hanif/46686/ . live .
2. Web site: Raheel . Natasha . 2016-04-28 . Save goalkeepers to save football: If he is being ignored, you know he's a keeper . 2023-07-12 . The Express Tribune . en . 2023-02-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230206034149/https://tribune.com.pk/story/1093727/save-goalkeepers-to-save-football-if-he-is-being-ignored-you-know-hes-a-keeper . live .
3. Web site: Wasim . Umaid . 2016-04-13 . Saqib hopes to impress during Maldives stint . 2023-07-12 . DAWN.COM . en . 2023-07-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230712114951/https://www.dawn.com/news/1251672 . live .
4. Web site: 2012-12-12 . Saqib likely to be signed by Dhaka Mohammedan - thenews.com.pk . 2024-05-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121212083948/http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-10-147884-Saqib-likely-to-be-signed-by-Dhaka-Mohammedan . 12 December 2012 .
5. Web site: 9 April 2016 . Saqib to sign contract with major Maldives club . 2023-07-12 . www.thenews.com.pk . en . 2023-07-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230712112802/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/111353-Saqib-to-sign-contract-with-major-Maldives-club . live .
6. Web site: Raheel . Natasha . 2016-07-19 . Goalie Hanif impresses Maldives' club manager . 2023-07-12 . The Express Tribune . en . 2016-07-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160720190415/http://tribune.com.pk/story/1144408/goalie-hanif-impresses-maldives-club-manager/ . live .
7. Web site: 28 March 2018 . Saqib flies off to Maldives to play in Dhivehi Premier League . 2023-07-12 . www.thenews.com.pk . en . 2023-07-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230712112803/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/297460-saqib-flies-off-to-maldives-to-play-in-dhivehi-premier-league . live .
8. Web site: Safi . Alam Zeb . 23 February 2019 . Saqib enjoying playing in Maldives football league . 2023-07-12 . www.thenews.com.pk . en . 2023-07-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230712112804/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/435512-saqib-enjoying-playing-in-maldives-football-league . live .
9. Web site: Safi . Alam Zeb . 26 April 2020 . Saqib wants big football events to attract attention of public, media . 2023-07-12 . www.thenews.com.pk . en . 2023-07-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230712112803/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/649848-saqib-wants-big-football-events-to-attract-attention-of-public-media . live .
10. Web site: Pakistan goalkeeper quarantined twice . 2024-05-30 . www.thenews.com.pk . en.
11. Web site: 2 September 2022 . Saqib Hanif reports for national camp . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220902020504/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/987575-saqib-hanif-reports-for-national-camp . 2022-09-02 . 2022-09-02 . . en.
12. 1711039029247127870. saqibSH33. New challenge ahead season 2023-2024 maldives side victory sports club ♥️. Saqib Hanif. 8 October 2023.
13. Web site: Victory SC defeats New Radiant to return to the Dhivehi Premier League . 2024-03-11 . Victory Sports Club . en . 2024-03-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240311124920/https://victorysc.mv/news/37 . live .
14. Web site: Victory Advances to First Division . 2024-03-11 . The Edition . en . 2024-03-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240311124919/https://edition.mv/report/31699 . live .
15. Web site: Mas Odi SC defeats Victory SC to lift the title. . 2024-03-11 . Victory Sports Club . en . 2024-03-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240311124920/https://victorysc.mv/news/39 . live .
16. Web site: Asian U-13 Championship 2005 . 2024-02-06 . www.rsssf.org . 2023-06-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230620155635/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/as-u13-05.html . live .
17. Web site: 2005-03-30 . Under-13 soccer squad leaves for Bangladesh . 2024-02-06 . DAWN.COM . en . 2024-02-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240206215136/https://www.dawn.com/news/amp/387061 . live .
18. Web site: BANGLADESH 1-2 PAKISTAN . Soccerway . September 5, 2013 . us.soccerway.com . March 20, 2019 . March 3, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220303120122/https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2013/09/05/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/bangladesh/pakistan/1553521/ . live .
19. Web site: 10 August 2018. National football squad for Asian games announced . 2023-08-03 . The Nation . en-US . 2018-08-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180820035800/https://nation.com.pk/10-Aug-2018/national-football-squad-for-asian-games-announced . live .