Abdul Ghafoor (footballer)

Abdul Ghafoor (3 August 1938 – 7 September 2012), known by his nickname Majna, was a Pakistani professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Ghafoor also captained the Pakistan national football team. He was nicknamed the "Pakistani Pele" and "Black Pearl of Pakistan".

Early career
Ghafoor mostly played in the midfield, but he was tried in all other positions too except for goalkeeper. He began his career in 1957, representing his local side Saifi Sports (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
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.

Dhaka Mohammedan & Victoria SC
Abdul Ghafoor then also played for Dhaka Mohammedan as well as Victoria SC in former East Pakistan.

Dilkusha SC
Ghafoor helped Dilkusha SC finish runner-up in the Dhaka League in 1969.

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
Ghafoor made his national team debut in 1959 after receiving a call-up from coach 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. He also was the only Pakistani player to feature in an Asian XI side in 1960.

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.

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. In 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. 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. Ghafoor was part of Pakistan national football team in their golden era. 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". He served as the team's captain for 11 years.

Personal life
Ghafoor was born in Saifi Lane, Baghdadi, a neighbourhood of Lyari in Karachi 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 had a predilection for football. The couple then later lived in Lyari, Karachi. Ghafoor worked for Karachi Port Trust in his later years until his retirement.

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. Ghafoor left behind two sons and three daughters. He spent his last years in poverty.

International goals
''Note: Exact figures of Pakistani players before 1989 are not yet known and yet to be researched. Below are goals recorded.''

Honours
Club
 * Karachi Kickers (West Pakistan)
 * Aga Khan Gold Cup :
 * Champion: 1958


 * Mohammedan SC (Calcutta)
 * Aga Khan Gold Cup :
 * Champion: 1960


 * Mohammedan SC (Dhaka)
 * Aga Khan Gold Cup :
 * Runner up: 1961


 * Dhaka League (3):
 * Champion: 1961, 1965, 1966


 * Pakistan championship :
 * Champion: 1961/62


 * Victoria SC (East Pakistan)
 * Aga Khan Gold Cup :
 * Champion: 1962


 * Dhaka League (2):
 * Champion: 1962, 1964

International
 * Pakistan National Team
 * Merdeka Cup :
 * Runners up: 1962