Hajdari lining out for the Stockholm Gaels. Stockholm GaelsStockholm Gaels
A YOUNG FOOTBALLER from the Stockholm suburb hardest hit by last year’s riots is dreaming of a career in the League of Ireland — so much so that he’s taken up Gaelic football to make his dream come true.
Normally a box-to-box midfielder, 21-year-old Haidar Hajdari played in goal for the Stockholm Gaels this weekend in the first round of the Nordic Gaelic football championship in Oslo, and he hopes to use the sporting contacts he makes to win him a trial at a League of Ireland club.
“It was a great experience – I loved the physicality of the game and even though we came third I had great fun,” says Haidar, who was the hero of the hour with an acrobatic penalty save against Malmö in the group stages of the GAA tournament.
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“Some of the guys here have played soccer in Ireland at a good level, so I’m hoping they can hook me up!”
Born in Sweden, Hajdari was close to signing on professional terms with an Egyptian club but the Arab Spring put paid to that move, and now he’s looking to the League of Ireland to make his soccer breakthrough.
I had a successful trial in Egypt but with the recent unrest it didn’t feel safe to move there. Then I started to look at the League of Ireland clubs – the standard seems to be very good and I’m not afraid of the physical aspect.”
The riots in the Stockholm suburb of Husby a year ago started on the street where Hajdari grew up, and he attributes much of the violence to the fact that young people from the area don’t see a great future for themselves.
“It’s difficult. Youth unemployment is very high here and no matter how many jobs you apply for, you rarely get called to an interview.
“All of us dream of making it as professional footballers, and we train all day and all night, practicing our skills.”
Hajdari would love the chance to show the League of Ireland a bit of Swedish steel.
“I think I could do well in Ireland. I’ve watched a lot of highlights on Youtube. The style suits my game of passing and moving, and I don’t shy away from tackles. I know if I got a chance I could prove myself in the League of Ireland.”
Haidar says that interested clubs can contact him via e-mail haidar.hajdari@gmail.com – and who knows, he may even take up the offer of a spot between the posts for a Gaelic football team if there’s one going.
Swedish soccer player aims to take GAA route to the League of Ireland
A YOUNG FOOTBALLER from the Stockholm suburb hardest hit by last year’s riots is dreaming of a career in the League of Ireland — so much so that he’s taken up Gaelic football to make his dream come true.
Normally a box-to-box midfielder, 21-year-old Haidar Hajdari played in goal for the Stockholm Gaels this weekend in the first round of the Nordic Gaelic football championship in Oslo, and he hopes to use the sporting contacts he makes to win him a trial at a League of Ireland club.
“It was a great experience – I loved the physicality of the game and even though we came third I had great fun,” says Haidar, who was the hero of the hour with an acrobatic penalty save against Malmö in the group stages of the GAA tournament.
“Some of the guys here have played soccer in Ireland at a good level, so I’m hoping they can hook me up!”
Born in Sweden, Hajdari was close to signing on professional terms with an Egyptian club but the Arab Spring put paid to that move, and now he’s looking to the League of Ireland to make his soccer breakthrough.
The riots in the Stockholm suburb of Husby a year ago started on the street where Hajdari grew up, and he attributes much of the violence to the fact that young people from the area don’t see a great future for themselves.
“It’s difficult. Youth unemployment is very high here and no matter how many jobs you apply for, you rarely get called to an interview.
“All of us dream of making it as professional footballers, and we train all day and all night, practicing our skills.”
Hajdari would love the chance to show the League of Ireland a bit of Swedish steel.
“I think I could do well in Ireland. I’ve watched a lot of highlights on Youtube. The style suits my game of passing and moving, and I don’t shy away from tackles. I know if I got a chance I could prove myself in the League of Ireland.”
Haidar says that interested clubs can contact him via e-mail haidar.hajdari@gmail.com – and who knows, he may even take up the offer of a spot between the posts for a Gaelic football team if there’s one going.
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Ambition Haidar Hajdari League of Ireland Stockholm Gaels