By Max Hatzoglou
St Albans defender Hakeem al-Araibi, who is also widely known for being held in a Thai prison for more than two months, says he has been happy playing at the club this season in the National Premier League competition.
The Baranian born and football representative was held in prison awaiting an extradition hearing that was eventually withdrawn by Thai prosecutors who submitted a court request.
Despite playing as a defender al-Araibi managed to score in a game earlier in the season against the competition’s only undefeated team South Melbourne.
al-Araibi said he has been pleased with the club’s start to the season after seven rounds.
“We started the season excellently with a draw with Port Melbourne and two wins against Avondale and Dandenong City, and we encountered some obstacles in some matches,” al-Araibi said.
“We were supposed to win and take three points, but this football, sometimes it goes in a direction we do not want.
The Saints recorded an outstanding result in round three defeating last year’s ladder leaders Avondale, who only lost one game last season.
That 1-0 win over Avondale who currently sit in second after seven rounds has given the team great confidence.
“Our goals are to be among the top three, and I expect the club will be among the top three,” he said.
“Nothing is impossible, we played with the strongest teams in Victoria and beat them, except for South Melbourne, we lost that because of a lack of focus in that match I think.”
The 28-year-old said maintaining focus was something they were working to improve on.
“On the negative side, sometimes we lose our focus in the matches and then lose, as happened in the Melbourne Knights and South Melbourne match,” he said.
“We as a team must be very focused in every match and I trust the team when every player is in his focus.”
al-Araibi has been fasting since the beginning of Ramadan on April 1 while playing although he says it has been manageable.
“For me, I do not feel that Ramadan has affected my level of playing, and usually exercises and most matches are at night, so I can drink water or all before training or matches,” al-Araibi said.
al-Araibi says he has enjoyed playing at St Albans who he joined with this season.
“I am very happy with the St Albans and I have had good days with the players and I am happy with the fans who always support us,” he said.
“I hope to make a wonderful imprint in the club and achieve greatly with them.”
The club broke a three-game losing streak in round seven defeating Heidelberg United 2-0 away from home to go up to eighth spot on the ladder.
After finishing bottom placed in 14th last season, recording just two wins from 18 matches, the Saints have already picked up three wins and equaled their total points tally from last season (10), seven games into the season.
