Pakistan-born footballer aims to play for Hong Kong while serving the community
Naveed Khan will juggle pursuing his ambitions on the pitch at Football Club with helping people from ethnic minorities in his other job
A Pakistan-born footballer has set himself the unusual twin target of playing for Hong Kong while maintaining a parallel career in civic life.
Naveed Khan scored 22 goals for Central & Western District last season, after stepping down to play in Division One while he concentrated on his job with Kowloon City District Council.
The 25-year-old, who rejected a Pakistan call-up in 2019, has been snapped up by Hong Kong Football Club for the forthcoming Premier League campaign.
“I knew a Premier League team would come for me,” Khan said. “I was hoping others would, but it was only HKFC, and I’m very grateful to them for this opportunity.”
Head coach Chancy Cooke’s semi-professional HKFC team typically train for two hours from 8am, freeing Khan to then spend eight hours in the office assisting district council member Dr Rizwan Ullah.
“People from ethnic minorities come to us for help,” said Khan, who was taught by Ullah at school.