Abdul Ghafoor (footballer)

Abdul Ghafoor Majna (3 August 1938 – 7 September 2012) was a Pakistani professional footballer. He played as a midfielder. Ghafoor was also a former captain of the Pakistan national football team.

Abdul Ghafoor Majna
Personal information
Full name Abdul Ghafoor
Date of birth (1938-08-03)3 August 1938
Place of birth British India
Date of death 7 September 2012(2012-09-07) (aged 74)
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1958–1959 Karachi Kickers (West Pakistan) ?? (?)
1960 Mohammedan Sporting Club (Kolkata) ?? (?)
1961 Mohammedan Sporting Club (Dhaka) ?? (?)
1962–1964 Victoria SC (East Pakistan) ?? (?)
1965–1969 Mohammedan Sporting Club (Dhaka) ?? (?)
National team
1959–1967 Pakistan ?? (?)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career overview

Ghafoor was nicknamed the "Pakistani Pele" and "Black Pearl of Pakistan". Ghafoor was part of Pakistan national football team setup when it was in the top 10 teams of Asia. According to The Express Tribune, he was "the last man alive from the days when the Pakistan football team was good enough to beat USSR, UAE and China – a far cry from the state of affairs right now.".[1]

Club career

Ghafoor played in Dhaka in the 1960s and before that, he represented Mohammedan Sporting Club (MSC) in the Calcutta League, India and Karachi League, Pakistan.

Personal life

Ghafoor was born in British India. When playing for Mohammedan Sporting Club (MSC) in Dhaka, Ghafoor met his wife Sabiha and then later they married. His wife Sabiha also has a predilection for football. Ghafoor and his wife Sabiha then later lived their life in Lyari, Karachi. Ghafoor sons' are Footballers too. His son Abdul Ghani has played football for different domestic teams. And his other son Abdul Waheed has also played for Pakistan Army FC. He had many brothers-in-law in the same sport: One of the greatest goal keepers of all time Ishtaiq Ahmed, his elder brother Mushtaq Ahmed and younger brother Imtiaz Ahmed was also known as a famous Pakistan sports game cricket and they both played First Class Cricket in domestic circuit, Mushtaq Ahmed elder son Bilal Ahmed Also played football in Pak Sports Club u-19 and he selected to Sindh district-level football later on he left football and joined Sir Sarmad Cricket club and Pakistan u-19 team

Death

Ghafoor died in Lyari, Karachi after a prolonged battle with paralysis and disease as a poor broken man. Ghafoor left behind two sons and three daughters.[2][3]

Honours

Club

Karachi Kickers (West Pakistan)
Champion: 1958
Mohammedan SC (Calcutta)
Champion: 1960
Mohammedan SC (Dhaka)
Runner up: 1961
Champion: 1961, 1965, 1966, 1969
  • Pakistan championship :
Champion: 1961/62
Victoria SC (East Pakistan)
Champion: 1962
Champion: 1962, 1964

International

Pakistan National Team
Runners up: 1962

See also

Sumbal Khan

References
  1. Pakistani Pele was a ‘football encyclopaedia’
  2. http://www.footballpakistan.com/2012/09/abdul-ghafoor-majna-1938-2012-by-riaz-ahmed/
  3. ‘Pakistani Pele’ fights paralysis


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