Ali Mekawir

Ali Mekawir (born 27 July 2000) is a Solomon Islands footballer who currently plays for TFA Dubai [1] and the Solomon Islands national team.

Ali Mekawir
Personal information
Full name Mohammad Ali Mekawir
Date of birth (2000-07-27) 27 July 2000
Place of birth Solomon Islands
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Adelaide City
Number 21
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017 Hana
2018 Marist
2019 Western United
2019–2020 Langney Wanderers 11 (5)
2021 Honiara City
2021–2022 Waneagu United
2022 Adelaide City 9 (0)
2023– TFA Dubai
International career‡
2017 Solomon Islands U17 4 (3)
2018 Solomon Islands U20 5 (1)
2022– Solomon Islands 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 September 2022
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13:31, 17 March 2022 (UTC)

Club career

In his early career Mekawir played with Hana and Marist.[2] In 2019 he joined Western United.[3] Later that year he was one of three Solomon Islands footballers to join a club in England after attending the local Stars Football Academy. With Langney Wanderers of the Southern Combination Football League Premier Division, Mekawir scored against Tower Hamlets in the 2020–21 FA Cup to become the first-ever Solomon Islands player to score in the tournament.[4][5] Later that month he went on to score against Eastbourne United in the 2020–21 FA Vase.[6] He scored a total of five goals in eleven league appearances that season.[7]

In January 2021 Mekawir returned to the Solomon Islands and joined Telekom S-League debutantes Honiara City.[8] He debuted for the club on 24 January 2021, scoring a goal in the eventual draw with league leaders Henderson Eels.[9] He went on to be one of the top scorers in the league that season.[10] The following season he moved to Waneagu United.[11]

In April 2022 it was confirmed that Mekawir had signed with Adelaide City of the NPL South Australia.[12]

International

Mekawir represented the Solmon Islands in the 2017 OFC U-17 Championship. He scored a hattrick in the Solomon's 12–0 victory over Samoa.[13] The following year he was called-up again for the 2018 OFC U-19 Championship.[14] The team advanced to the semi-finals before being eliminated by Tahiti. Mekawir scored his side's only goal in the 1–3 defeat.[15]

In March 2022 Mekawir was included in the Solomon Islands senior squad for 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification.[16][17] In preparation for the tournament the Solomon Islands held a training camp in Australia and played local club sides. Mekawir scored against two-time National Premier Leagues Queensland side Lions FC in the final match before departing for Qatar.[18] He went on to make his senior international debut on 17 March 2022 in the opening match against the Cook Islands.[19]

International career statistics

As of match played 30 March 2022[20]

Solomon Islands
YearAppsGoals
202220
Total20

References
  1. "Ali Mekawir scores | TFA Dubai 1-4 China U23 | 19-02-2023". Oceania Football Center.
  2. "Oceania Football Center profile". Oceania Football Center. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  3. Abana, Simon. "National U-19 lads on a mission". Solomon Islands Football Federation. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  4. Dunford, Mark. "Langney Wanderers goal in the FA Cup is a unique first". The Sussex Express. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  5. Saltori, Rafael. "Solomon Islands' forward Ali Mekawir makes history in English FA Cup". Oceania Football Center. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  6. Amadeu, Pedro. "Solomon Islands' forward Ali Mekawir scores as Langney Wanderers advance in English FA Vase". Oceania Football Center. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  7. "English FA profile". The English FA. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  8. Zoleveke II, Peter. "Mekawir joins City". The Island Sun. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  9. Zoleveke II, Peter. "MEKAWIR SCORES ON DEBUT". The Island Sun. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  10. Aruafu, Carlos. "Golden boot race heats up". Solomon Star News. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  11. "Felipe Announced Young 25-Man Training Squad". Solomon Islands Sports Media. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  12. Abana, Simon. "Ali Mekawir joins Adelaide City FC". Solomon Islands Football Federation. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  13. Avikash. "Goal flurry sees Solomons join NZ". Fiji Football Association. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  14. Abana, Simon. "Trio relish playing on the big stage". Solomon Islands Football Federation. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  15. "Sport: New Zealand, Tahiti qualify for Men's Under 20 World Cup". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  16. "Futsal stars, S-League standouts among Solomon Islands squad named for Qatar". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  17. "SIFF officially announced 25 man squad for World Cup qualifiers". Solomon Islands Herald. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  18. Abana, Simon. "NATIONAL TEAM WIN LAST FRIENDLY, TO LEAVE FOR QATAR TODAY". Solomon Islands Football Federation. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  19. "Cook Islands vs. Solomon Islands". FIFA. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  20. "NFT profile". National Football Teams. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
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