Many still remember Papis Cisse’s famous goal against Chelsea. It was during the legendary 2011/12 season when the Senegalese striker joined Newcastle from Freiburg and scored 13 goals in 14 matches during just half a season. He was never as prolific afterward, but he will always be remembered for scoring a goal that Petr Cech likely never conceded before in his career. That era also brings back memories of Newcastle’s attacking duo—Papis Cisse and Demba Ba.Papiss Cisse 🆚 Chelsea. Enough said.#GoalOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/b61VAwDX9W— Premier League (@premierleague) October 29, 2021 After leaving England, the former Senegal international played in China, Turkey, and France before deciding to hang up his boots in 2023. However, he briefly trained with English lower-league side Macclesfield but didn’t secure a contract. Just when it seemed he had settled into retirement, Cisse decided to lace up his boots again and return to the pitch. Of course, he is no longer at the level he was ten years ago, but he has now signed for Al Qabila, a team competing in the fourth tier of UAE football.Former Newcastle striker Papiss Cissé has joined UAE side Al Qabila FC. pic.twitter.com/EnimryX9L2— Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley) March 18, 2025 Now, what makes this story interesting? Al Qabila was founded just last year and is owned by TikToker Soheil Varahram, who is not only the club’s owner but also the first-choice left-back. The club’s social media presence is exceptionally well-managed, and Cisse is by far the biggest star, making him a key figure in their promotional efforts.Another interesting fact is that Al Kabila’s squad is not made up solely of local players—it’s a diverse mix of different nationalities. The team features players from the Netherlands, Jordan, Austria, England, Portugal, Brazil, Colombia, Denmark, Northern Ireland, and two Serbians.Howe’s Magpies fly into legend! Newcastle beat Reds to win EFL CupThe team’s coach is also a somewhat familiar name—former Newcastle defender Steven Taylor, who was Cisse’s teammate during their time at St. James’ Park. Taylor’s last two managerial stints were in India and New Zealand, so it wouldn’t be surprising if he played a role in convincing Cisse to join him in this venture.Former #NUFC players, Head Coach Steven Taylor (39) with Papiss Cisse (39) and Danny Simpson (38) at Al Qabila in Dubai, UAE 🇦🇪 pic.twitter.com/73VtL522kc— NUFC Gallowgate (@NUFCgallowgate) February 26, 2025 The only remaining question is: what kind of shape is Papis in? If he’s even somewhat physically fit, he should have no problem scoring double-digit goals at this level. And who knows? Maybe a bigger offer will come his way later. But one thing is certain—he’s likely doing well financially just by signing for this newly founded club. Al Kabila has already gained significant attention because of him, as well as due to its unconventional owner.##NAJAVA_MECA_8789821##
