Kashif Siddiqi

Kashif Mumtaz Siddiqi (born 25 January 1986) is a professional footballer who plays for Indian club Real Kashmir, on loan from English club Oxford United as a defender.

Not to be confused with Kashif Siddiq.

Kashif Siddiqi
Personal information
Full name Kashif Mumtaz Siddiqi
Date of birth (1986-01-25) 25 January 1986
Place of birth Hammersmith, England
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Playing position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 Real Kashmir
(on loan from Oxford United)
Youth career
Arsenal
Wycombe Wanderers
2001–2002 Hayes
2002–2003 Yeading
2003–2005 Boston United
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006 Eckerd Tritons 6 (1)
2008 Presbyterian Blue Hose 14 (1)
2009–2010 Fresno Pacific Sunbirds 19 (1)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009 Springfield Demize 9 (1)
2010 Fresno Fuego 0 (0)
2011 Al-Wasl 0 (0)
2012 Ventura County Fusion 0 (0)
2013–2014 Northampton Town 0 (0)
2019– Oxford United 0 (0)
2019– → Real Kashmir (loan) 0 (0)
National team‡
2007 Pakistan U23 3 (0)
2008 Pakistan 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 07:58, 21 September 2019 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 19:20, 22 April 2013 (UTC)

After playing youth football with various teams in England, Siddiqi moved to the United States on a scholarship to play college soccer, before spending two seasons in the USL PDL, before moving to the Middle East to play. Born in England, Siddiqi has played for Pakistan at senior international level.

In 2011, Siddiqi founded the Kashif Siddiqi Foundation, which aims to encourage young British Asians into the game. He is also an ambassador for Kick It Out, an anti-racism organisation.

Early and personal life

Kashif Mumtaz Siddiqi was born in Hammersmith to an Indian father and a Ugandan mother.[1][2] He is Muslim.[3]

In January 2012, Siddiqi was invited to the inaugural Asian Football Awards at Wembley Stadium, where he handed out the award for Young Asian Player of the Year to Danny Batth.[4]

In April 2012, Siddiqi was made an official ambassador for Chelsea's "Search for an Asian Star" campaign 2012, along with player Florent Malouda and Bhangra musicians Jaz Dhami and H Dhami.[5] The 2012 edition of the tournament attracted 400 children.[6]

Club career

Early career in England

Siddiqi played youth football for Arsenal, Wycombe Wanderers, Hayes, Yeading and Boston United.[7][8]

College career

In 2005 Siddiqi played college soccer in the United States on a scholarship, while studying for a degree in Business Administration, attending Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida for two years and Presbyterian College for one year.[9][10] He then transferred to Fresno Pacific University for his last year to finish off his degree and play club football. [11]

USL PDL career

In 2009 the USL Premier Development League began paying some players,[12] and that same season Siddiqi signed to play with the Springfield Demize. He made his debut for the team in their 2009 season opener against Des Moines Menace,[13] and spent the season as club captain.[14] He spent the 2010 season with the Fresno Fuego, also in the USL PDL.[15]

Later career and injuries

Siddiqi later played in the Middle East,[16] for Al-Wasl of Dubai,[17] before his career was interrupted by a number of serious injuries.[7]

Return to the USL PDL

Siddiqi signed for the Ventura County Fusion for the 2012 season.[17][18]

Return to England

Siddiqi signed for Football League club Northampton Town in September 2013, having trained with the club during the previous season, following his recovery from a hip injury.[19][20]

In August 2019 he signed for Oxford United in a player/ambassadorial role, with the intention that he would join an Indian club on loan.[21] In September 2019 he moved to Indian club Real Kashmir on loan.[22]

International career

Siddiqi received his first national team call-up to the Pakistan under-23 team in May 2007 for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Qualifiers, making his debut against Bahrain,[23] and playing in two further matches against Kuwait and Qatar.[14] He was called back up to the under-23 team in 2010.[24]

In 2008, he was called up by the senior team to take part in the SAFF Championship,[14] and later that year he earned one full international cap.[8] In March 2011, Siddiqi was named in the provisional 37-man squad for the upcoming AFC Challenge Cup qualifying matches.[25]

Siddiqi has also played for the 'Pakistan XI', a team composed of Europe-based players of Pakistani origin which competes in friendly games.[26]

Charity work

In 2011, Siddiqi founded the Kashif Siddiqi Foundation, with the aim to encourage increase the participation of British Asians in association football.[27] Siddiqi has also attended meetings with the English Football Association on the matter.[28] In April 2011, Siddiqi and the foundation played in a charity match to raise money for the Sodje Sports Foundation, Bury Hospice and The Bury Fusilier.[29] He is also an ambassador for Kick It Out.[17]

He is also the co-founder of the Football For Peace organization.[30]

In November 2013, Siddiqi was honoured by Prince Albert II of Monaco for his charity work.[31]

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References
  1. "Kashif Siddiqi, British Citizen Who Played for Pakistan Football Team, Signs for Real Kashmir".
  2. "Real Kashmir signs former Pakistan international from Oxford United".
  3. "The Muslim News Awards for Excellence 2016 Short-list". <uslim News. 26 February 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  4. "Chopra wins top Asian Football Award". The Football League. 26 January 2012.
  5. "MALOUDA LAUNCHES FOURTH ASIAN STAR APPEAL". Chelsea F.C. 3 April 2012.
  6. "ASIAN STAR A BIG HIT". Chelsea F.C.
  7. "1-on-1 with Kashif Siddiqi". BASA. Archived from the original on 1 December 2011.
  8. "Player profile". National-Football-Teams.com. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  9. "Profile at Eckerd College". Eckerd.edu. Archived from the original on 11 February 2006. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  10. "Profile at Presbyterian College". Gobluehose.com. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  11. "Profile at Fresno Pacific University". Fpuathletics.com. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  12. Joe Stone (26 May 2011). "USL Soccer PDL Regulations". LiveStrong.com.
  13. "Des Moines Menace at Springfield Demize". USL. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  14. Zohaib Rashed (21 July 2010). "Pakistan's Got Talent". Eastern Eye. pp. 24–25.
  15. "Fresno Fuego player profile". Fresnofuego.com. 25 January 1986. Archived from the original on 6 March 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  16. Simon Hamalienko (1 July 2011). "Tigers Tamed For Second Year in a Row". Asian Express. pp. 60–61. Archived from the original on 14 September 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
  17. "Kash on a mission to increase British Asian representation". Kick It Out. Archived from the original on 12 May 2013.
  18. "Nurturing the Next Generation". The Asian Today. 8 May 2012. Archived from the original on 22 June 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  19. "Northampton Town sign Pakistan defender Kashif Siddiqi". BBC Sport. 10 September 2013. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  20. "Siddiqi earns Cobblers deal". The Football League. 10 September 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  21. "Kashif Siddiqi: Oxford United sign Football for Peace co-founder". BBC Sport. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  22. "Oxford United player Kash Siddiqi off to India's Real Kashmir - in world's most militarised region". Sky Sports.
  23. "LONDON-BORN KASHIF SIDDIQI WILL MAKE MAIDEN APPEARANCE FOR PAKISTAN". Football Pakistan. 15 May 2007. Retrieved 27 January 2009.
  24. "Akhtar pins hope on Pakistan overseas players". The Nation. 5 October 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  25. Ali Ahsan (10 March 2011). "PFF announce 37 players for AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers camp". Football Pakistan.
  26. "Issue Three". Desiballers.
  27. "Kash Siddiqi plans Foundation for Asian footballers in UK". Football Pakistan. 23 November 2011.
  28. "Increasing Asian participation in football". The Football Association. 11 July 2011.
  29. "Pakistani International to take part in charity match". The Asian Today. 15 April 2012. Archived from the original on 6 June 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  30. "Profile". Peace & Sport. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  31. "Kashif Siddiqi honoured in Monaco". Pakistan Football Association. 29 November 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2013.


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