(MSU Billings release)
BILLINGS – Introducing another recruit for the upcoming 2018 fall season, Montana State University Billings men’s soccer head coach Alex Balog announced the signing of Hussain Al Haifi on Wednesday.
“To find a quality player like Hussain this late in the recruiting cycle is nothing short of amazing for us,” Balog commented. “We had a void to fill defensively, and we are convinced Hussain will be able to help with that. He has played at a very high level and has had the privilege of training with several youth national age groups.”
A native of Doha, Qatar, Al Haifi will enter MSUB’s program as a sophomore after transferring from Qatar University in the nation’s capital city.
Al Haifi has spent time both as a midfielder and a left back in his soccer career, and attended Khalifa Independent Secondary School. “I chose MSUB because of its reputation with its academic programs and the soccer program,” Al Haifi said.
Al Haifi joins a group of 13 other signings for the upcoming season, and is the fifth international player inked by Balog in this year’s recruiting class. “Hussain will be coming into our program as a transfer, and he has been on top of everything so far,” Balog said. “That extra experience will be very welcome for us, considering the young group of recruits we are bringing in.”
Recently garnering worldwide media attention in the realm of soccer, Qatar was selected by FIFA to host the 2022 World Cup.
MSUB’s men’s soccer team opens the 2018 fall season on Aug. 31 with a road contest at Cal Poly Pomona. The fall home opener is set for Sept. 7-9 at the Fifth Annual Rimrock Classic in Memory of Trevor Wildberger.