Jafari Joins SWQ Thunder
Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Paul Smith/SWQ Thunder FC
New SWQ Thunder recruit Mustafa Jafari is looking forward to scoring plenty of goals for his new club in PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland 2016.
The 20-year-old former Olympic FC striker is the latest signing for the Toowoomba-based Thunder as they seek to improve on consecutive bottom-placed finishes in their first two seasons.
He scored twice as an impact player in his 15 PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland appearances at Olympic over the past two seasons, before a mid-year switch to Brisbane Premier League outfit Rochedale Rovers.
After delivering a further five goals in 15 appearances with Rovers in the third tier, Jafari said it is now time for him to bring his game back to the national second division in 2016.
“I decided to move to Toowoomba because I needed to show I can play at this level and the next level,” he explained.
“The NPL is the league before the A-League and the level up from the (Brisbane) Premier League. I decided I want to play at the highest level I can.”
He said his aim remains to become a professional footballer and outlined a simple but effective way to press his claims for a chance in the national top tier.
“I always try my best and this year, if I score a lot of goals and be the top goal scorer, I can make it to the A-League hopefully,” he said.
Jafari added that Thunder, who are without a PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland win after two seasons, can also move up the table in 2016.
“The club is working hard for this year and wants to try their best to be in the top four. So we will see what will happen,” he concluded.
Jafari is of Afghan heritage and came to Australia as a refugee from Iran in 2012 as a 16-year-old, arriving at Christmas Island and enduring several months in a Perth processing camp before ultimately settling in Queensland.
His story came to national prominence after his goal sealed Olympic’s Westfield FFA Cup Round of 32 win over Melbourne Knights in 2014. He was also the subject of a short film released earlier this year.
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