By Ijaz Chaudhry
Pakistan’s biggest Volleyball star of the present times, Naseer Ahmed has plied his trade in top clubs of a number of countries.
The 6’3”spiker has been a regular in Pakistan’s national side since 2003. In 2009, he was named the captain of Pakistan’s national team and has been leading them till now.
He has been active in the lucrative leagues of the Middle East for over ten years now.
It started in Iran where Naseer was on the rolls of Gol Gohar Sirjan club for the 2005-6 and 2006-7 seasons. Pertinent to mention that of the 15 Asian club volleyball championships held so far, Iranian clubs have won the title a total of 10 times. From Iran, he moved to Dubai where he plied his trade for four seasons. A professional sportsman is always attracted by better offers. Now, for the last three seasons the Pakistani star is shining in the Lebanon.
“In all the three leagues, I have appeared for the top division clubs. The standard of Iranian clubs is the best in Asia. The presence of players from world’s major volleyball nations such as Italy, Brazil, Argentina, Bulgaria and Serbia, is the prime reason. In Dubai too, the clubs acquire the services of players from the top ranking nations. I was the only Pakistani during my time there. In 2010-11, my club Ajman VC was the league champions. Moving to Lebanon, my clubs have twice reached the semifinals of the play-offs. In 2012-13, I was playing for the Tennorine VC. Midway through the season, there was a break for the Arab club championships in Beirut. The reigning Lebanese champions Bauchreih acquired my services. They reached the final, only time for a Lebanese outfit, and I was named the best spiker. Presently, I am with Hboub club.”
The standard of Arab club volleyball can be gauged from the fact that the only Asian team ever to play the final of the FIVB Volleyball Club World Championships was the Qatari club Al-Rayyan.
“All the clubs, I have played with, have big budgets. The atmosphere at the matches is electric with thousands in attendance. Special buses carry supporters for the away games.”
“I must tell that it was my show with the Pakistan’s national team that impressed the Dubai clubs. Al Rashid International Tournament is an annual event in Dubai, participated by top Asian nations plus Afro-Arab countries. I represented Pakistan five times – declared the MVP twice and the best spiker on two other occasions.”
Italy is a leading volleyball nation. Its clubs have won an amazing number of eight out of the total 10 FIVB Volleyball Club World Championships. Naseer has the honour of being offered a trial by an Italian club.
“It was a great opportunity but my commitments with the Pakistan team didn’t let me avail it”.
He has been earning up to 70,000 US$ a season. Pakistan can rightly take pride in having an international mega star in world’s most widely played sport.
