Tariq Kazi Explained

Tariq Kazi
Fullname:Tariq Raihan Kazi
Birth Date:6 October 2000
Birth Place:Tampere, Finland
Position:Centre back, Right-back, Left-Back
Currentclub:Bashundhara Kings
Clubnumber:40
Youthyears1:2012–2017
Youthclubs1:Ilves
Years1:2017–2019
Clubs1:Ilves
Caps1:15
Goals1:0
Years2:2018–2019
Clubs2:HJS (loan)
Caps2:8
Goals2:0
Years3:2019
Clubs3:→ Ilves II
Caps3:12
Goals3:0
Years4:2020–
Clubs4:Bashundhara Kings
Caps4:54
Goals4:0
Nationalyears1:2017
Nationalteam1:Finland U17
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2017–18
Nationalteam2:Finland U18
Nationalcaps2:4
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2018
Nationalteam3:Finland U19
Nationalcaps3:1
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2021–
Nationalteam4:Bangladesh
Nationalcaps4:27
Nationalgoals4:2
Club-Update:8 May 2024
Ntupdate:11 June 2024

Tariq Raihan Kazi (Bengali: তারিক কাজী; born 6 October 2000) is a Bangladeshi professional footballer who plays as a defender for Bangladesh Premier League club Bashundhara Kings.[1] Born in Finland, he plays for the Bangladesh national team at international level. During his youth career he was primarily used as a right wing-back, who could also be deployed as a right back, later on he was transitioned into a center back by coach Óscar Bruzón.

Kazi is the second Bangladeshi descent footballer to represent Bangladesh internationally after Danish-born Jamal Bhuyan. He represented Finland at U17 and U19 levels internationally, before switching national sides. He also made an appearance in the UEFA Europa League qualifying stage for Ilves.[2]

Personal life

Kazi was born to a Finnish mother and a Bangladeshi father in Tampere. Kazi, who has represented Finland in the U17, U18, U19 national team, also has a Bangladeshi passport due to his family roots. His father Sahidul Kazi is a teacher of Tampare University of applied science. Kazi is the grandson of the heroic freedom fighter and school teacher of Naogaon, Abdul Jabber Kazi, who was martyred in the battlefield of 1971 liberation war. He has a brother and two sisters.[3]

Club career

Ilves

Kazi began his career with Ilves, making his Veikkausliiga debut for the club in June 2018 as a substitute in a 3–1 loss to KuPS. On 19 July 2018, Kazi became the first ever Bangladeshi to play in a Europa League match. He came on as a substitute in the 76th minute for Jani Tanska, as Ilves defeated Bulgarian club PFC Slavia Sofia 2–1.[4]

Tariq spent the 2018–19 season on loan at Swedish club HJS Akatemia who currently play in the Kakkonen which is the third level in the league system of Finnish football. During the season Tariq managed to make 8 appearances for the club.

Bashundhara Kings

In November 2019, Kazi joined Bangladesh Premier League side Bashundhara Kings on a three-year deal.[5] [6] [7]

International career

Having represented Finland at youth international level, in November 2020, Kazi was called up to the Bangladesh squad for their friendlies against Nepal but had to withdraw from the squad due to injury.[8]

On 3 June 2021, Kazi made his senior international debut for Bangladesh in a 1–1 draw against Afghanistan in the country's 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier, playing full 90 minutes.[9]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Ilves2017Veikkausliiga000000
2018Veikkausliiga1201010140
2019Veikkausliiga305080
Total1506010220
HJS (loan)2018Kakkonen8080
Ilves II2019Kakkonen120120
Bashundhara Kings2019–20Bangladesh Premier League20000020
2020–21Bangladesh Premier League1600030190
2021–22Bangladesh Premier League1600020180
2022–23Bangladesh Premier League1403000170
2023–24Bangladesh Premier League600060120
Total54030110680
Career total89090120980

International

National teamYearAppsGoals
Bangladesh202190
202240
2023122
202420
Total272

International goals

Scores and results list Bangladesh's goal tally first.

Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition+ List of international goals scored by Tariq Kazi
1. 25 March 2023 1–0 1–0 Friendly
2. 25 June 2023 2–1 3–1 2023 SAFF Championship

Honours

Ilves

Bashundhara Kings

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hadi . Adnan . AA . Finnish-born Tariq Kazi named in Bangladesh preliminary camp. 2023-06-25 . The Asian Age . en.
  2. News: তারিক কাজী বাংলাদেশ ফুটবলের নতুন হারকিউলিস. 19 July 2021. savebangladeshfootball.com. Daily Save Bangladesh Football. 23 July 2021. bn.
  3. Web site: ফিনল্যান্ড থেকে পিতৃভূমিতে স্বপ্নমাখা তারিক. Bangla Tribune.
  4. Web site: Slavia Sofia-Ilves | UEFA Europa League 2018/19. UEFA.com.
  5. Web site: I can keep my fitness up, says Tariq from Finland. dhakatribune.com. 15 May 2020. 17 November 2020.
  6. Web site: Kings rope in Tariq Kazi. 14 November 2019. Daily Sun.
  7. Web site: Football fraternity welcomes Kingsley & co.
  8. Web site: Kazi ruled out of Nepal friendlies. Daily Dhaka Tribune. 6 November 2020. 17 November 2020.
  9. Web site: গোলশূন্য প্রথমার্ধে চমক তারিক কাজী (In Bengali). Daily Prothom Alo. 3 June 2021. 3 June 2021.