Hakeem Al-Araibi says his future starts now and dreams of playing in the A-League
Free and back in Australia, Hakeem Al-Araibi has revealed that he still harbours A-League ambitions, declaring that his future starts now. He spoke to DAVID DAVUTOVIC about what’s next in his journey.
State League star Hakeem Al-Araibi revealed that he still harbours A-League ambitions, declaring that his future starts now.
Al-Araibi, 25, will quit his other jobs, including driving Ubers, and focus on his soccer career, starting next week when he resumes training with his National Premier League Victoria club Pascoe Vale, after 76 days in a Thai jail.
The defender, who was playing for Bahrain’s youth national team at the time of a crime he was alleged to have committed which led to his 10-year prison sentence, admitted drawing strength from global stars, Juventus’ Giorgio Chiellini and ex Chelsea striker Didier Drogba in his fight for freedom.
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The right-back/defender said he wants to repay his club and Australia for helping him escape extradition to Bahrain.
“I will try to work hard to play in the A-League. Because I saw people, I don’t think they are much better than me. I think I can play,’’ Al-Araibi said.
“I believe myself I have a big future, if I train hard, I will get it. Now I will work hard. I’m still 25, I have many years, maybe seven years to play.
“My future starts from today. I saw many people from Australia they focus on me and are waiting for me to play football.
“I will miss four rounds. But I see all the people from the club, they love me and I should work hard for them and I will do anything for the club, for the people.”
Al-Araibi became perhaps the first NPL player to have Prime Minister Scott Morrison and a host of politicians clamouring for selfies, when he visited Canberra on Thursday with Craig Foster, whose brave campaign led to his release.
He said the support and response here and overseas has been extraordinary.
“Craig (Foster) told me that all the famous footballers talked about my case when he visited me in jail. That gave me energy when he told Drogba, Chiellini talked about my case, it made me strong in the jail, I sleep comfortable. I believed 100 per cent I would go back to Australia,’’ he said.
“I will work hard now to do anything for Australia, not just for football but for the people, the government.
“Sometimes I work in the morning. But from today I will focus just on football, train hard.
“I’m still not a citizen of Australia, but I love Australia. Australia is my home. It’s a safe country.”
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Originally published as Hakeem Al-Araibi says his future starts now and dreams of playing in the A-League
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