Syed Ali Raza talks about his football journey, struggles, and path to the national team.

In a deeply personal and revealing interview with Zakir Kiro, Pakistani football star Syed Ali Raza opened up about the raw realities of his journey. From a football-obsessed childhood to the crushing weight of rejection and his eventual rise to the national team, Raza's story is best told in his own words.

An all-consuming obsession with the ball started at home for Raza, often to the frustration of his family. "When I was a kid, the first thing I would do after waking up was grab my football," he recalled. "I’d gather the neighborhood kids and we would play all day. I used to play inside the house, kicking the ball against the walls. My uncle would get so angry, telling me to sit down and stop breaking things. But while the other kids were busy staring at mobile phones, my only focus was football. I’d watch videos of Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho on my dad’s laptop and just try to copy what they did."

The path to the national team was not straightforward, and Raza faced a brutal reality check when he was initially called up to the Pakistan National U-23 camp. Despite performing well and earning praise from the coaches, he was ultimately cut from the final 26-man squad. "When my name was cut, I was broken. I cried for a day or two. But then I sat down and told myself, 'Football isn't just one day.' The rejection actually fueled me. While other people rested, I started training individually. The actual grounds were closed, so I went to the dirt pitches. I ran on the stones, played in the dust, and just doubled my effort. I trusted that if I worked hard, God would reward me."

His relentless individual training prepared him for a massive gamble: a trial for a professional academy in Dubai. Getting there wasn't easy; he had to endure a frustrating four-month wait in Pakistan just for his visa to clear. When other local players backed out, Raza went alone. "People told me not to go. They asked, 'What's the point? The coaches are foreign, they won't select you.' But my heart gave me the testimony that I had to go. I put my trust in God and went. On the first day of trials, I was so focused I didn't even eat lunch. I just prayed and stepped onto the ground."

The environment in Dubai was a shock, but it sharpened his game. "The foreign players—they don't waste time with useless talk or gossip. They are perfectly professional. The coaches told me, 'When you are on the pitch, you don't play friendly. Treat your opponent like a rival. Go in hard.'" In just one month there, he scored six goals, got two assists, and won a penalty. A defining moment came against Gulf United: coming on as a substitute, Raza chased down a dead ball on the touchline, aggressively beat three defenders, and delivered a perfect cross for a goal. The foreign coaches were completely sold on his tough playstyle.

Returning to Pakistan physically and mentally transformed, Raza entered the National Team camp in Multan. Surviving the extreme heat, he proved his immense tactical value to the coaching staff. Though naturally a left winger, he was tested in the midfield and as a striker, adapting seamlessly without complaint. Just days before the final cuts, he scored a crucial goal in a team scrimmage, giving him the quiet confidence that he had finally made it. "We were all sitting in the meeting, and everyone was sweating. My heart was beating fast, wondering what would happen. When the manager read the list and I heard my name, I was so happy I was speechless. The first thing I did was call my house. My family, especially my dad who has supported me the most, was so incredibly happy."

That selection launched him onto the international stage, where he faced established, highly physical teams like Cambodia, Iraq, and Oman—a massive test that proved his mettle for Pakistan's developing squad.

Watch Syed Ali Raza in action – highlights showcasing the talent behind his journey.

When Zakir Kiro asked about Raza's trademark free-kicks, the winger broke down the exact science behind his dead-ball technique. "First, it's like a scope. You have to lock onto your target in the net. I take a strict two-step run-up. I analyze where the goalkeeper is standing, look for the blind spot or the side he's leaving open, and then I strike it with the knuckle of my foot. But it’s not magic—it's repetition. You have to hit it every single day until it becomes perfect."

Looking ahead, Raza has his eyes on Europe, dreaming of the Champions League and the Premier League within the next five years. But for the young fans watching him now, he left a vital piece of advice: "My biggest message is to focus on your education. Playing sports is great, but education makes you a respectful, well-mannered human being. You have to know how to give respect to get it. Pick a goal, block out all the useless distractions, and work so hard that you make your parents proud and brighten your family's name."