Taha Ali #26

Profile

A dribbling artist who has made a remarkable journey from being a national futsal player to becoming a top player in the Swedish top-flight. Popular for his individual skill, and as a youngster was inspired by Hatem Ben Arfa. “Ronaldinho, Neymar sure … but Ben Arfa – what a player he was,” he says. As a youngster, he was told he didn’t have the physique to succeed in football, but still made it to the national team. “I’ve always been told: ‘You’re too small, you’re too bad, not good enough, you dribble too much.’” Wants to be a role model for Swedish-Somali people: “I just hope to be an inspiration and show that no matter which path you’ve taken – whether through an academy or lower divisions – it’s possible to make it.”

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