Amman — Footballers often change positions on the pitch in search of roles that better showcase their abilities and give them greater opportunities to prove themselves. But Alaa Fakhouri’s story is different. After spending many years as a goalkeeper in the youth ranks, he decided to embark on a new challenge as a striker, an unusual transition that he hopes will open the door to success in Jordanian football.
اضافة اعلان
Fakhouri, 20, is the younger brother of Byramids FC and Jordan national team player Ouda Fakhouri. He began his football journey as a goalkeeper at Fursan Jordan Club, while also playing as a striker for the youth national team when he was eight years old.
Alaa continued his career through the youth ranks, eventually joining Al-Faisaly, where he spent two seasons as a goalkeeper before moving to Amman FC. He spent five years there, achieving several milestones, most notably helping the under-15 and under-17 teams qualify for the Professional League and winning the Jordan Cup titles at under-17 and under-19 levels.
Despite his long association with goalkeeping, Fakhouri’s footwork, speed and ability to move along both the right and left flanks during training prompted those around him to consider using his abilities in a different position. He had also occasionally participated in training sessions as an outfield player.
The decision to change positions did not come overnight. The idea began to take shape about a year ago, when he received advice from coach Saeed Al-Karmi, who had been coaching his brother, to consider switching to striker. Al-Karmi also expressed his willingness to help him make the transition.
Speaking to Al-Ghad, Fakhouri said several coaches had previously advised him to move away from goalkeeping and make better use of his footwork, but Al-Karmi’s advice marked the real turning point in his career.
The player then began working daily to develop his attacking abilities, a step that required considerable commitment and training after years of wearing goalkeeper gloves and standing between the posts.
As the experiment gained momentum, Fakhouri spent a month training with Egyptian club Pyramids FC. He had hoped to continue his career there, but differences in age-group eligibility prevented him from completing the experience as he had hoped.
He then travelled to Portugal for a month-long training stint, focusing on the demands of playing as a centre-forward, before returning to Jordan in search of a genuine opportunity to prove himself in the domestic game.
Fakhouri found that opportunity at Al-Baqa'a, which was looking to strengthen its squad at the start of the current season after a large number of players departed at the end of the previous campaign.
He joined the team’s training sessions under coach Amjad Abu Tuaimeh, who was convinced by his abilities and gave him his confidence. The club subsequently signed him, beginning a new chapter in which he hopes to prove that his move from goalkeeping to attack was more than a temporary experiment.
Fakhouri added: “Getting this opportunity at Al-Baqa'a is an important milestone in my career, especially because I understand that changing positions requires patience and continuous hard work, as well as making the most of the minutes I get to demonstrate my abilities and convince the coaching staff that I deserve to play.”
The player has begun attracting attention with the reserve team, scoring twice against Al-Salt two days ago in his second appearance, following a match against Shabab Al-Ordon the previous week.
The performance offered early signs that Fakhouri can adapt to his new position. He had previously scored twice for Al-Baqa'a’s first team in a friendly against Daqra, giving him a morale boost as he continues working towards his ambitions.
Although his first-team appearances have not yet reached the level he had hoped for, he views this as part of his development, recognising that selection decisions rest with the coaching staff and that his responsibility is to keep working and wait for the right opportunity.
Fakhouri remains confident that he can improve his performance in the coming period. He believes that continued training and attention to the details of the striker’s role will give him a better chance to demonstrate his potential, particularly as he is still at the beginning of his first-team career and has sufficient time to gain experience.
The player hopes to follow in the footsteps of his older brother, Ouda Fakhouri, and sees reaching higher levels and representing the Jordan national team as major future goals. However, rather than viewing his brother’s career as a ready-made path to follow, he considers it an additional source of motivation to build his own journey.
Fakhouri is optimistic that Al-Baqa'a can deliver a strong season and compete for higher positions in the standings. He hopes the team will perform in a way that satisfies its supporters and promises to be a surprise for Jordanian clubs in the coming period.
Source: Al-Ghad. Reporting: Muhannad Juwailis
