Abdul Ghafoor (footballer)

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Abdul Ghafoor

| image = Abdul Ghafoor Majna portrait.png

| fullname = Abdul Ghafoor

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1938|8|3}}

| birth_place = Karachi, Sind, British India

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2012|9|7|1938|8|3}}

| death_place = Karachi, Pakistan

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| position = Midfielder

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 1957

| clubs1 = Saifi Sports

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| years2 = 1958

| clubs2 = Sindh Government Press

| caps2 =

| goals2 =

| years3 = 1958–1959

| clubs3 = Karachi Kickers

| caps3 =

| goals3 =

| years4 = 1960

| clubs4 = Kolkata Mohammedan

| caps4 =

| goals4 =

| years5 = 1961

| clubs5 = Dhaka Mohammedan

| caps5 =

| goals5 =

| years6 = 1962–1964

| clubs6 = Victoria SC

| caps6 =

| goals6 =

| years7 = 1963

| clubs7 = Dhaka Wanderers

| caps7 =

| goals7 =

| years8 = 1965–1968

| clubs8 = Dhaka Mohammedan

| caps8 =

| goals8 =

| years9 = 1969

| clubs9 = Dilkusha SC

| caps9 =

| goals9 =

| years10 = 1970

| clubs10 = EPIDC

| caps10 =

| goals10 =

| years11 = 1971–??

| clubs11 = Karachi Port Trust

| caps11 =

| goals11 =

| nationalyears1 = 1959–1974

| nationalteam1 = Pakistan

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| pcupdate =

| ntupdate =

}}

Abdul Ghafoor (3 August 1938 – 7 September 2012), known by his nickname Majna, was a Pakistani professional footballer who played as a midfielder.{{cite web |last=Ahsan |first=Ali |date=23 December 2010 |title=A history of football in Pakistan – Part I |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/593095/a-history-of-football-in-pakistan-part-i |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904220323/https://www.dawn.com/2010/12/23/a-history-of-football-in-pakistan-part-i/ |archive-date=4 September 2022 |access-date=1 March 2014 |website=www.dawn.com |publisher=Dawn |location=Karachi, Pakistan}}{{cite web |last=Ahsan |first=Ali |date=23 December 2010 |title=A history of football in Pakistan – Part II |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/593096/a-history-of-football-in-pakistan-part-ii |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905115633/https://www.dawn.com/2010/12/23/a-history-of-football-in-pakistan-part-ii/ |archive-date=5 September 2022 |access-date=1 March 2014 |website=www.dawn.com |publisher=Dawn |location=Karachi, Pakistan}} Ghafoor also captained the Pakistan national football team during the 1974 Asian Games. He was nicknamed the Pakistani Pelé and Black Pearl of Pakistan, for his resemblance to the Brazilian football legend and his playing abilities, and is regarded as one of the earliest legends in Pakistan football history.{{Cite web |last=Agencies |date=2012-09-07 |title='Pakistani Pele' Abdul Ghafoor dead at 71 |url=https://www.dawn.com/2012/09/07/pakistani-pele-abdul-ghafoor-dead-at-71/ |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en |archive-date=9 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109133826/http://dawn.com/2012/09/07/pakistani-pele-abdul-ghafoor-dead-at-71/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=The years of dreams {{!}} Special Report {{!}} thenews.com.pk |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/556573-the-years-of-dreams-1950s-1960s |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=www.thenews.com.pk |language=en |archive-date=28 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728164605/https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/556573-the-years-of-dreams-1950s-1960s |url-status=live }}

Early life

Ghafoor was born in Saifi Lane, Baghdadi, a neighbourhood of Lyari in Karachi in British India on 3 August 1938.{{Cite web |date=2012-09-07 |title=Pakistan's ‘Pele’ passes away |url=https://www.nation.com.pk/08-Sep-2012/pakistan-s-pele-passes-away |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241112024027/https://www.nation.com.pk/08-Sep-2012/pakistan-s-pele-passes-away |archive-date=2024-11-12 |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=The Nation |language=en-US}} Belonging to the Sheedi community, his grandparents reportedly migrated from Africa and settled in Saifi Lane.{{Cite web |date=2010-01-25 |title=Imagining Lyari Through Akhtar Soomro - 3 Quarks Daily |url=https://3quarksdaily.com/3quarksdaily/2010/01/imagining-lyari-through-akhtar-soomro.html |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240829024345/https://3quarksdaily.com/3quarksdaily/2010/01/imagining-lyari-through-akhtar-soomro.html |archive-date=2024-08-29 |access-date=2024-08-29 |language=en-US}} Ghafoor was fond of football since early age, and often ran away during classes to nearby ground to join boys playing football. Ghafoor claimed that he had to sell his school bags in order to buy sports shoes. He was popularly known by his nickname Majna.

Club career

= Early career =

File:Karachi Kickers 1958 Aga Khan Gold Cup Winners.png winning Karachi Kickers team]]

Ghafoor mostly played in the midfield, but he was tried in all other positions too except for goalkeeper.{{Cite web |last=Hasan |first=Shazia |date=2012-01-06 |title=‘Pakistani Pele’ gets financial support |url=https://www.dawn.com/2012/01/06/pakistani-pele-gets-financial-support/ |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en |archive-date=15 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915002532/http://dawn.com/2012/01/06/pakistani-pele-gets-financial-support/ |url-status=live }}

He began his career in 1957, representing his local side Saifi Sports in Lyari. He played in the 1958 All-Pakistan President's Cup for the Sindh Government Press. He also led Karachi Kickers to victory in the Aga Khan Gold Cup the same year.

= Kolkata Mohammedan =

File:1960 Aga Khan Gold Cup winners Calcutta Mohammedan.png winning Kolkata Mohammedan team]]

In a later tour of Mumbai in 1960, he signed up for Kolkata Mohammedan Sporting Club to play as a professional footballer in the Calcutta Football League in India.{{Cite book |last=Majumdar |first=Boria |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V-sMYjZkpigC&pg=PA69 |title=A Social History of Indian Football: Striving to Score |last2=Bandyopadhyay |first2=Kausik |date=2006 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-415-34835-5 |language=en |access-date=31 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124143259/https://books.google.com/books?id=V-sMYjZkpigC&pg=PA69 |archive-date=24 January 2023 |url-status=live}} He was recommended by fellow national teammate and club captain Muhammad Umer.

He won the Aga Khan Gold Cup with the club the same year.

= Dhaka Mohammedan & Victoria SC =

File:Mohammedan SC (Dhaka) at the 1966 Aga Khan Gold Cup final.png

Ghafoor then also played for Dhaka Mohammedan as well as Victoria SC in former East Pakistan.{{cite web |title=Kala Ghafoor no more |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-248943|date=9 September 2012|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530131240/https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-248943 |archive-date=30 May 2024 |access-date=30 May 2024 |website=The Daily Star}}

With the former he won the First Division League three times and twice with Victoria, as well as winning the Aga Khan Gold Cup in 1962.

= Dhaka Wanderers =

File:1963_Aga_Khan_Gold_Cup_runners-up_Dhaka_Wanderers_Club.png

In 1963, Dhaka Wanderers formed a strong team to participate in the Aga Khan Gold Cup, acquiring Ghafoor along with national teammates Ghulam Abbas Baloch, Muhammad Umer, Abdullah Rahi, Yusuf Jr., and Yusuf Sr. from defending champions Victoria, who had withdrawn from the tournament.

After defeating Police AC, Nepal XI, Pakistan Western Railway and Indonesia XI in the semi-final, the club eventually lost 1–2 to Pakistan Railways.{{cite book |last=Dulal |first=Mahmud |title=খেলার মাঠে মুক্তিযুদ্ধ ({{Translation|Liberation war in the playground}}) |publisher=Bishhoshahitto Bhobon |year=2020 |isbn=978-984-8218-31-0 |language=bn}}

= Dilkusha SC =

Ghafoor also played for Dilkusha SC in 1962, 1964 and 1967. He helped the side finish runner-up in the First Division in 1969.

=EPIDC=

In 1970, Ghafoor transferred to EPIDC. He helped the club win the First Division during his lone spell.{{Cite web|title=Pakistan Observer 1970.09.14 — South Asian Newspapers |url=https://gpa.eastview.com/crl/san/newspapers/paob19700914-01.1.8|access-date=2025-04-11|website=gpa.eastview.com|archive-date=2025-04-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250411081311/https://gpa.eastview.com/crl/san/?a=d&d=paob19700914-01.1.8|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Pakistan Observer 1970.05.23 — South Asian Newspapers |url=https://gpa.eastview.com/crl/san/newspapers/paob19700523-01.1.8|access-date=2025-04-11|website=gpa.eastview.com|archive-date=2025-04-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250411081006/https://gpa.eastview.com/crl/san/?a=d&d=paob19700523-01.1.8|url-status=live}}

= Karachi Port Trust =

In 1971, Ghafoor joined Karachi Port Trust as a player and then became coach of the club before retiring from the team via golden handshake in 2000.

International career

File:Pakistani footballer of the 1960s, Abdul Ghafoor Majna, shakes hands with the chief guest before a match.jpg

Ghafoor made his national team debut in 1959 after receiving a call-up from coach John McBride, for a friendly tour in Burma and Indo-China. He subsequently played in December the same year at the 1960 AFC Asian Cup qualification held in India. Ghafoor along with fellow national teammate Qayyum Changezi were also the only Pakistani players selected to be part of the Asian All-Stars team after the tournament.{{Cite web |title=A SMILING CHALLENGE FROM THE ALL-STARS The Singapore Free Press, 18 December 1959, Page 11 |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/freepress19591218-1.2.90?qt=all-stars,%20pakistan,%20soccer&q=ALL-STARS%20pakistan%20soccer |website=eresources.nlb.gov.sg}}

Ghafoor was also part of the Pakistan team under the captainship of Muhammad Umer that played the 1962 Merdeka Tournament, where Pakistan reached the final but lost narrowly to Indonesia by 1–2.{{Cite web |title=Civil & Military Gazette (Lahore) – Thursday 20 September 1962 |url=https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003221/19620920/179/0013 |via=British Newspaper Archive}}

In 1964, Abdul Ghafoor toured China with the national team and then was made vice-captain for a friendly tour in Ceylon in 1965 and the 1965 RCD Cup in Iran.

File:Parviz Ghelichkhani and Abdul Ghafoor at the 1974 Asian Games, Iran vs Pakistan.jpg (left) during the 1974 Asian Games]]

In April 1967, Abdul Ghafoor announced his retirement from the national team after he and numerous footballers from Karachi had a falling out with then Pakistan Football Federation general secretary, Major Malik Muhammad Hussain.{{Cite web |title=Pakistan Observer 1967.04.20 — South Asian Newspapers |url=https://gpa.eastview.com/crl/san/?a=d&d=paob19670420-01.1.8&srpos=2&e=-------en-25-paob-1--img-txIN-ghafoor+major+malik--------- |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=gpa.eastview.com}} However, in 1974, Ghafoor came out of retirement on the special request of then Pakistan Football Federation president Abdul Sattar Gabol, to play one last for Pakistan in the 1974 Asian Games.{{Cite web |date=2010-11-06 |title=Jaffar named captain of U-23 soccer team |url=http://www.brecorder.com/news/3816701 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240811193811/http://www.brecorder.com/news/3816701 |archive-date=11 August 2024 |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=Brecorder |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2007-04-26 |title=Pak-Bahrain football match on May 16 |url=http://www.brecorder.com/news/3387892 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240531180058/http://www.brecorder.com/news/3387892 |archive-date=2024-05-31 |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=Brecorder |language=en}}

Ghafoor was part of Pakistan national football team in their golden era, when the national side recorded their best results against strong opponent sides.

Personal life

{{Quote box

| quote = "There was not a single player close to his quality in the subcontinent. He was such a quality player that we felt comfortable with the knowledge that he was playing for our side. Had he played in Europe, he would've been as famous as Pelé."

| source = Zakaria Pintoo during an interview to The Daily Star

| align = right

| width = 30%

}}Ghafoor was nicknamed the Pakistani Pelé during his playing days for his resemblance to the Brazilian football legend and his playing abilities. According to Ghafoor's son, when Pelé in Brazil heard about his look-alike in Pakistan, he expressed his desire to meet Ghafoor although that didn't happen. During his time in Dhaka, Ghafoor also received several offers to play for clubs in the Soviet Union and China, but he turned them down and preferred to play in his country.

When playing for Mohammedan Sporting Club in Dhaka, Ghafoor met his wife Sabiha. His wife's parents were originally from Allahabad in India, and the couple married after her father, who was a government servant, served as driver for a minister in Dhaka and was impressed by Ghafoor during football matches and began admiring him.{{Cite web |last=express |date=2010-05-05 |title=‘Pakistani Pele’ fights paralysis |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/11135/%E2%80%98pakistani-pele%E2%80%99-fights-paralysis |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240430195312/https://tribune.com.pk/story/11135/‘pakistani-pele’-fights-paralysis |archive-date=2024-04-30 |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}} The couple then later lived in Lyari, Karachi.

Ghafoor worked for Karachi Port Trust in his later years until his retirement. He natively spoke the Balochi language along with Urdu.{{Cite web |date=2004-04-14 |title=KARACHI: Suspects' families contest police claim |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/amp/356381 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240829024340/https://www.dawn.com/news/amp/356381 |archive-date=2024-08-29 |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}} After his retirement he was involved with the sport visiting football grounds and spending his time at his former team Saifi Club, coaching younger players.

In May 2006, it was reported that Ghafoor had loss of hearing and nearly impaired vision. During his interview with Dawn before the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Ghafoor expressed his support for Brazil, and demanded the freedom of his jailed son Abdul Ghani, footballer and employee of Habib Bank who was arrested in early 2004 from his home in Karachi in a crackdown against extremists, after he was accused of planning terrorist acts.{{Cite web |date=2006-05-28 |title=Pakistan's ‘Black Pele’ hopes World Cup brings family joy |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/194376/pakistan-s-black-pele-hopes-world-cup-brings-family-joy |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240829024340/https://www.dawn.com/news/194376/pakistan-s-black-pele-hopes-world-cup-brings-family-joy |archive-date=2024-08-29 |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}} This also resulted in Ghafoor getting paralyzed due to the shock after local security authorities raided the house and detained his son. Ghani was later released from prison.

In 2006, the Bangladesh Football Federation also contacted Ghafoor again to suggest some players from Pakistan to play in their league. However, the letter never reached Ghafoor, and was sent to the Pakistan Football Federation as the Bangladesh football authorities believed that a player such as Ghafoor would be running the affairs of football in the country. The Pakistan Football Federation sent its own team of boys to Bangladesh instead of forwarding the letter to Ghafoor.

Ghafoor's sons also played football. His son Abdul Ghani played for Habib Bank, and his other son Abdul Waheed played for Pakistan Army FC. His nephews Allah Bakhsh played for PIA and Muhammad Shafi played for Habib Bank, while his brother-in-law Ishtiaq Ahmed played as goalkeeper for Habib Bank.

Death

Ghafoor died in Lyari, Karachi on 7 September 2012 after suffering from a paralysis attack four years prior.{{Cite news |date=2012-09-08 |title=Pakistan on Saturday mourned the death of the country's former football captain Abdul Ghafoor who was likened to Brazilian legend Pele because of their similar looks and style of play. Ghafoor died after a prolonged illness on Friday. He was 71. |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/pakistan-on-saturday-mourned-the-death-of-the-countrys-former-football-captain-abdul-ghafoor-who-was-likened-to-brazilian-legend-pele-because-of-their-similar-looks-and-style-of-play-ghafoor-died-after-a-prolonged-illness-on-friday-he-was-71-/articleshow/16313611.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240829024339/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/pakistan-on-saturday-mourned-the-death-of-the-countrys-former-football-captain-abdul-ghafoor-who-was-likened-to-brazilian-legend-pele-because-of-their-similar-looks-and-style-of-play-ghafoor-died-after-a-prolonged-illness-on-friday-he-was-71-/articleshow/16313611.cms |archive-date=2024-08-29 |access-date=2024-08-29 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} He was survived by his wife, his two sons and three daughters.{{Cite web |date=2012-09-07 |title=Pakistani Pele was a ‘football encyclopaedia’ |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/433130/pakistani-pele-was-a-football-encyclopaedia |access-date=2022-08-03 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en |archive-date=12 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912094958/http://tribune.com.pk/story/433130/pakistani-pele-was-a-football-encyclopaedia/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=’Pakistan's Pele’ dies, aged 71 |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/423518/%7B%7B |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240829024339/https://www.arabnews.com/node/423518/%7B%7B |archive-date=2024-08-29 |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=Arab News |language=en}} He spent his last years in abject poverty. Although Faisal Saleh Hayat, the President of the Pakistan Football Federation released a statement after Ghafoor's death, the federation came under criticism from the Pakistani media about its lack of support for Ghafoor in his five years of illness.

Career statistics

= International goals =

:Scores and results list Pakistan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ghafoor goal.

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

|+List of international goals scored by Abdul Ghafoor

! scope="col" |No.

! scope="col" |Date

! scope="col" |Venue

! scope="col" |Opponent

! scope="col" |Score

! scope="col" |Result

! scope="col" |Competition

! scope="col" class="unsortable" |{{Abbr|Ref.|References}}

align="center" |1

|17 December 1959

|Maharaja's College Stadium, Kochi, India

|{{Fb|ISR|1925}}

| align="center" |2–0

| align="center" |2–2

|1960 AFC Asian Cup qualification

|{{Cite web |title=Israel Official Games 1948-1959 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/isra-intres50.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240813143613/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/isra-intres50.html |archive-date=13 August 2024 |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=www.rsssf.org}}

Honours

;Karachi Kickers

Aga Khan Gold Cup : 1958

;Mohammedan SC (Calcutta)

Aga Khan Gold Cup : 1960{{Cite web |title=Aga Khan Gold Cup |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/agakhan.html |access-date=2022-08-03 |website=RSSSF |archive-date=15 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715180454/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/agakhan.html |url-status=live }}

;Mohammedan SC (Dhaka)

Aga Khan Gold Cup : 1961
Dhaka First Division League (3): 1961, 1965, 1966

;Victoria SC

Aga Khan Gold Cup : 1962
Dhaka First Division League (2): 1962, 1964{{Cite web |title=Bangladesh - List of Champions |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/bangchamp.html |access-date=2022-08-03 |website=RSSSF |archive-date=3 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803070620/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/bangchamp.html |url-status=live }}

;EPIDC