Harun Hamid is not a name many football fans will recognise, but he scored the most significant Pakistan goal in their World Cup qualifying history.
The Lambeth-born footballer, 20, began playing the sport with his friends and with his dad before joining a Sunday league side at the age of six.
He said: “I used to play football anywhere and everywhere, even in the house breaking everything.”
A few years later, he had an unsuccessful trial for Queens Park Rangers (QPR), but before long was eventually picked up by the club through another trial.
Whilst at QPR, the Lambeth-born footballer was flagged up to the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) by someone from a fan website called FootballPakistan.com.
FootballPakistan.com was created in 2003 by volunteer enthusiasts and has had a significant role in connecting diaspora players like Hamid with the national team.
Founder Malik Riaz Hai Naveed, 35, said: “People thought we were the PFF and contacted us and said ‘I’m from Pakistan heritage I want to play’.
“This is a development we have built on in the last 20 years and we suggest players to the PFF.”
Hamid made his debut for his country in March against the Maldives, but his most significant contribution came against Cambodia in October.
Having drawn 0-0 in the first leg of their World Cup qualifier in Phnom Penh, Pakistan took to the field in Islamabad needing their first ever qualifying win to advance to the next round.
With the game finely poised at 0-0, Hamid volleyed in a shot from the edge of the box to give his country the crucial win.
⚽️ GOAL: HARUN HAMID GIVES PAKISTAN THE LEAD IN WC QUALIFIER MATCH VS CAMBODIA 🇵🇰🟢 pic.twitter.com/IxeIDwgVvs
— On the Mic (@on_themic) October 17, 2023
It is not just significant in terms of their qualification campaign, but also with regards to Pakistani football as a whole.
Hamid said: “Scoring that goal meant a lot to me, it was like we were changing and turning a corner.
“We had never won a qualifying match before so it’s history and I think a lot more people in Pakistan are now looking at football.”
Pakistani football has gone through a period of turmoil in recent years, having been suspended by FIFA on numerous occasions.
Domestic football in the country is also lacking, meaning diaspora players like Hamid are relied on to provide experience to the national team.
Editor at FootballPakistan.com Ali Ahsan, 37 explained: “‘If we can get the best Pakistani diaspora talent to contribute that bit of extra quality, the national team will become more competitive.
“If the national team performs better, you can expect people to take football more seriously.”
For Pakistani football fans like Ahsan and Naveed, who have followed their team through thick and thin, Hamid has provided a momentous memory.
Naveed said: “When he scored the goal, I had goosebumps all over.
“It was like a dream come true.”
Hamid is also conscious of the impact that this victory has had in Pakistan, with even his grandparents taking an interest in football as a result.
He also knows that the win can also leave an impression abroad on people like himself with Pakistani heritage or other British Asians.
He explained: “My dream is for kids from all over the world to want to play for Pakistan, wherever they are from.
“Every kid in the UK wants to play football, so if they see another Asian playing football at the highest level, they will think ‘why can’t I?’
“You look at Morocco and everyone who came together to create that great team, I want something like that to happen with Pakistan.”
Currently, Hamid is without a club after he was released by QPR in April, but has trained with some clubs and is hopeful that he will find another.
Even as a free agent, Hamid has World Cup qualifiers against Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Jordan to look forward to.
The first of these games is a tough ask on 16 November against Saudi Arabia, who famously beat eventual champions Argentina at the 2022 World Cup.
Ahsan said: “Even if we finish rock bottom of our group it doesn’t matter because we then go to the Asian Cup Qualifiers.”
Pakistan sit 84 places behind Tajikistan, the lowest-ranked opponents in their group, so may well struggle to register any points.
However, now they have got a first win under their belt thanks to Hamid’s goal, history is no longer holding them back.
Featured image credit: Pakistan Football Federation
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I am proud Guys likeHumaod and hope more players comes to join. Well done team Pakistan.
This article throws light on how Pakistan football team is shaping up in this new era ! With no league matches throughout the year, one cannot expect a proper local bred team. So have to rely on Pakistanis of foreign origin who have done exceedingly well !