Abu Bakar Yasinand
Naomi de Souza,BBC Newsbeat
Ziyad Baig
Umar Nawaz recently made his debut for Pakistan
Umar Nawaz was just seven years old when his world was turned upside down by a deadly terrorist attack in Pakistan.
Umar thought he was “dreaming” after hearing his big brother Haris was among the 141 killed by the Pakistan Taliban in the Army Public School massacre in Peshawar on 16 December 2014.
His other older brother, Ahmad, was shot in the arm, leaving him with an injury requiring emergency surgery.
Speaking to BBC Newsbeat, the 6ft 3in (191cm) striker says: “We had to come to the UK for his treatment and from there we thought the UK was the best place to stay.
“I didn’t think Pakistan was safe to go back to.”
“It was a sad moment for my family, especially for my mum and dad who lost their child.”
Eleven years on from the massacre, the 18-year-old is now a Wrexham FC Academy scholar who has just made his debut for Pakistan’s national team.
“When I first came to Birmingham after seeing what happened to my brother I was traumatised, what if it happened again?” he says.
“But when I went to school, I felt so safe, in the UK it is so safe and protective, I got really comfortable.”
Umar picked up English after just four months in primary school, and started playing football at his local park.
“I would buy cones and start practising basic skills like kick-ups and dribbling” he recalls.
He asked his parents to put him up for local football team, Bournville FC, where he was scouted for Premier League side Wolverhampton FC, before getting picked up by Wrexham FC.
“My style is like Haaland, I play a lot like him,” says Umar, who is also a huge Manchester City fan.
Umar jokes that his dad soon had him on a diet of 14 boiled eggs a day, chicken breast and rice, but the discipline soon led to his first international appearance, playing for Pakistan’s international team against Syria in November.
This required him to return to Pakistan for the first time – a bittersweet experience.
“It was a bit upsetting,” he says. “It was the place I lost my brother.”
But Umar was determined not to let his tragedy define him.
“I was going to go in. It’s my country. It’s a big moment,” he says.
“My brother who passed away was probably really proud of me, I wish he was there to see my play for Pakistan.
“He would have been the first one in the crowd, my biggest supporter.”
While Umar “can’t remember much” about his childhood in Peshawar one thing stands out – playing cricket with his two big brothers.
“I will always remember that, especially my brother that I lost,” he says.
“He and I would always have a competition – of course he would always beat me, he was a really good cricketer.”
Getty Images
Umar says his surviving brother Ahmad, pictured in 2015, is also an inspiration to him
Umar says his surviving brother Ahmad has also inspired him.
He says his sibling, who was the president of Oxford University’s Union in 2022, is another “role model”.
“He’s pushed me a lot, all of us are proud of him, especially from what he’s been through, getting shot in the arm,” says Umar.
Faith has also played a huge part in his journey. “Even if I’m having a good game or bad game I will pray and thank God, it’s good to stay connected to Allah in good or bad times,” he says.
Umar remains determined to continue to excel on the pitch, with hopes for more international appearances.
“In the future you’ll see the Pakistani Haaland,” he says.
“Hopefully get a few more call-ups for Pakistan, be the top goalscorer for Pakistan, that would be a great achievement. Good things are going to come.
“I can just focus on making my family and brother really proud.”
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