by Mantas Aliukonis
The start of last year was marked by painful injuries across the A Lyga. Few teams were spared a phenomenon that sidelined players for long periods. Multiple-time Lithuanian champions Marijampolė’s Sūduva were no exception. Although the club produced a solid season, it ultimately fell short of complete satisfaction – qualification for European competition. Whether the absence of their 28-year-old Omran Haydary, who had looked convincing before the campaign, played a role remains an open question.
The Afghan forward’s season was derailed before it began. On February 12 last year, during Sūduva’s pre-season friendly, Haydary collapsed in a match against Hegelmann. The diagnosis was a familiar one in professional football: torn knee ligaments, followed by an estimated nine months away from the game.
In September, Haydary began intensive gym work, focusing on rebuilding muscle strength and overall conditioning. He was physically capable of appearing in the final two matches of the season but chose not to risk it. That decision, in his view, provided an additional six weeks of recovery and the chance to approach the new season fully prepared.
His last appearance for Afghanistan came in the autumn of 2023. Since then, he has withdrawn from the national team setup due to what he described as the federation’s treatment of players. He had stepped away previously, returned after being promised improved conditions, and then left again when those assurances were not honoured. Alongside three team captains, he made the decision to withdraw once more. From his perspective, national team players must be guaranteed at least basic standards when representing their country in order to reduce risks such as injury. At present, he says, no agreement has been reached.
World Cup qualifiers in the Asian zone, he explained, represent a very different footballing experience, particularly because of the climate. Extreme heat creates difficult conditions for players accustomed to European environments. Even so, representing his country remains a source of pride, and if selected, he maintains that he would always give everything.
Haydary only international goal came away from home on June 7, 2019, against Tajikistan. The moment stood out because the goal was scored with a back-heel finish, an action he rarely executes. Played in the evening, the match avoided the worst of the daytime heat, although conditions remained demanding by European standards.
Holding dual citizenship, Haydary has long navigated questions of identity. “In the Netherlands, I’m viewed as Afghan; among Afghans, I’m seen as European.” This has been a constant throughout his life and is something he no longer dwells on. He grew up and attended school in the Netherlands and approaches life with a European mindset, but at home with his parents he feels more Afghan, maintaining traditions such as Afghan cuisine.
The war in Afghanistan, he notes, has endured for decades. Stories from his parents describe life before the conflict and the profound changes that followed. The Taliban play a significant role in the country’s current reality, and politics dominate the situation. Above all else, he points to the human cost, describing the loss of life as the gravest consequence.
Born in Afghanistan, Haydary moved to Europe at a young age and grew up in Kerkrade. His football education took place at Roda JC Kerkrade, a club he describes as coming from a small city but one with a notable history. For decades, Roda had been among the Dutch clubs never relegated from the Eredivisie. That record ended in 2014, closing a 41-year spell in the top division. Although the club bounced straight back the following season, another relegation followed, and since then Roda have struggled to return to the highest level.
His first professional contract arrived at the age of 15 and was worth €500 per month, a significant sum for a teenager. At that stage, both he and his older brother were considered among the club’s biggest talents, regularly attracting interest from elsewhere.
After leaving the Netherlands, attention came from many directions, often accompanied by promises that failed to materialise. The offer from Olimpia Grudziądz stood apart for its clarity and substance, prompting him to accept. The move proved productive: he became the top scorer in Poland’s First Division before earning a transfer to Lechia Gdańsk.
Following the 2022/23 season, he joined Arka Gdynia on loan in Poland’s First League. Over that spell, he scored nine goals and registered four assists. A move to Georgia followed after his contract with Lechia Gdańsk expired.
Questions about whether the Ekstraklasa level proved too demanding, or whether extended time on the bench was a burden, are met with context. His first season in Poland coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, an unusual period that nonetheless included regular starts and goals in decisive matches, including a cup final. Football, as he frames it, inevitably involves peaks and downturns.
Changes at club level brought further challenges. The dismissal of the head coach was followed by the arrival of a successor who did not favour his player profile, a situation he accepts as part of football’s reality.
The move to Georgia was driven by the prospect of playing in the UEFA Europa Conference League. At the time, it appeared to be a positive step, though circumstances unfolded differently. Structurally, the league mirrored Lithuania’s format, with 10 teams playing each other four times. The major contrast lay in popularity: football is Georgia’s primary sport, whereas basketball holds that role in Lithuania.
Georgian football, he believes, is on an upward trajectory, helped by players such as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Giorgi Mamardashvili. He hopes Lithuania will also produce players of that calibre, increasing interest in the sport. The Lithuanian national team’s recent performance against the Netherlands, in his view, may contribute to that momentum.
Winter and snow presented no shock, having already been part of his experience during four years in Poland. While also away from football, his life is uncomplicated. Most of his time is spent staying in touch with family and friends back home, alongside social moments with teammates. In Marijampolė, that routine defines daily life.
The knee injury suffered against Hegelmann has healed well. Much of the recovery process involved extensive work with the club’s physiotherapist, rebuilding muscle strength through long hours of rehabilitation. He now feels capable of performing all required actions on the pitch.
This injury marked the first major setback of his career. A broken shoulder sustained during international duty in Gdańsk in 2021 had previously interrupted his progress, but the knee injury represented his first serious issue involving his legs.
As the new season approaches, anticipation is growing among Sūduva supporters. The striker considers himself ready, potentially forming a partnership with Nauris Petkevičius, who rediscovered form last year with eight goals and five assists during the 2025 campaign.
Reflecting on Sūduva’s most recent season, he points to a collective effort that exceeded external expectations. Many had written the team off, yet clear structure and mentality produced strong performances. From his perspective, a top-three finish was deserved, even if football does not always reward merit. Improvement remains the target for the coming season, and he hopes to play a central role.
The World Cup qualifying matches between Lithuania and the Netherlands Sūduva attacking player watched live from the stands. The first half in Kaunas stood out as unexpected, with Lithuania defying assumptions of a straightforward Dutch victory and showing the capacity to compete with one of the world’s strongest teams. He hopes that experience helped Lithuanian players grow. The return fixture in Amsterdam, by contrast, unfolded very differently and was one-sided.
A practising Muslim, Haydary describes religion as a source of support. He has never consumed alcohol or smoked, viewing that lifestyle as a foundation for balance and stability. Belief, he stresses, remains a personal matter, with being a good person the essential principle.
His preferences are simple: rice with chicken ranks highest among favourite foods, alongside festive turkey. Water is his drink of choice, Nike his preferred boot brand, and the Mercedes GLE 63 S his favourite car.
More sunshine would be welcome in Lithuania, although years spent in Poland have made the climate familiar. The Netherlands, he notes, offers little more, with frequent wind and rain.
To Sūduva supporters, he has made a public promise: to repay their trust with strong performances and goals.
His arrival in Lithuania traces back to an approach from an intermediary who asked whether a summer move might be of interest. At the time, he declined, expecting a return to Poland, where interest from five clubs existed. A move to one of two major leagues appeared close to completion. Instead, four to five months passed without a club. When winter came, contact was renewed, with the intermediary explaining that the Sūduva coach knew him from his time in Poland. After a positive conversation, he committed to the move, intent on rebuilding and becoming the player he believes he can be. An injury followed in his first week.
Gratitude remains toward the coach and club for their belief and support throughout recovery. Repaying that trust with performances and goals is a responsibility he fully accepts.
Haydary lives alone in Lithuania, though visits from friends and family in the Netherlands are frequent, particularly around matches. Day to day, however, his life is largely solitary.
On the pitch, versatility defines his role. Years under different coaches and systems have made both wings familiar territory. Sūduva’s use of two forwards also suits his skill set. Ultimately, he adapts to the demands set by the coach.
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