ISL 2022-23: My target is to win a trophy with Chennaiyin FC – Rahim Ali

Chennaiyin FC striker Rahim Ali has revealed that his target is to win a trophy with the club in the upcoming season of the Hero Indian Super League. The 22-year-old youngster believes that playing for Marina Machans will give him an opportunity to improve his game.

Meanwhile, Ali had played 18 matches for Chennaiyin FC in the previous season in which he scored two goals and also provided two assists.

However, the youngster picked up a severe injury and had to miss the crucial matches of the last edition. Ali is looking forward to giving his best in the upcoming season and he wants to embrace the challenges that lay ahead for him.

Rahim Ali said while talking to the official website of Hero ISL, “I had got an offer from Chennaiyin FC and I was aware that they are two-time Hero ISL champions. So, they were building a great team and were hungry for more trophies which is what got me interested in them, to play for such a club. My target is also to win a trophy with Chennaiyin FC. It has also been a great platform for me to improve my footballing ability. Many players like Thapa [Anirudh], Rafael Crivellaro, Eli Sabia and Lucian Goian have helped me a lot, encouraged me to develop my playing style. I have learned a lot from them and there’s still more to learn because I’m still young.”

Meanwhile, it is well known that most of the ISL teams have foreign players as their forwards, which makes it difficult for Indian players to make a place for themselves.

On fighting for his place in the team, Ali said, “It has always been a challenge to beat a guy who plays in the same position as you. I push myself everyday because I know the foreign players are better than me, that is why they are playing here in the Hero ISL. It is a challenge and to overcome that challenge, I have to be dedicated, work hard, and keep myself humble.”

On the other hand, Rahim Ali had to miss the three matches of the AFC Asia Cup qualifiers against Afghanistan, Cambodia and Hong Kong due to injury. Ali admitted he was disappointed after missing out on these matches.

He concluded, “I was disappointed to not be a part of that Indian national team because of my injury, but it’s football, injuries are a part of it and they come and go. But I’m incredibly happy with the way our team performed and their qualification into the AFC Asian Cup. I went to see the team play and I was amazed by their performances. I feel very proud of this team, and I have faith in myself that I’ll be a part of this team in the near future by continuing to work hard and by staying humble.”

Rahim Ali will join Chennaiyin FC in mid-August for preseason.