Musa Ghazi

Musa Ghazi (1928 – 12 May 2003) was a Pakistani footballer who played as a left winger. He captained the Pakistan national football team during the 1960s.

Early life
Ghazi was born in the football-infatuated locality of Lyari in Karachi in British India.

Kolkata Mohammedan
Ghazi played for Mohammedan Sporting Club Kolkata in the 1940s and 1950s.

East Bengal
Ghazi played for East Bengal from 1956 to 1958. He scored 50 goals for East Bengal Club, being their highest scorer in 1956 and 1957.

He scored a brilliant goal which enabled East Bengal to beat Hyderabad City Police in the 1956–57 Durand Cup final, making a solo run past the defenders and scoring to make it 2–0 as East Bengal held onto the scoreline and won their third Durand Cup title. During his tenure the club also won the DCM Trophy in 1957 and IFA Shield in 1958. He also held the record of most goals in the DCM Trophy, with 12 goals in single competition.

Return to Kolkata Mohammedan
Ghazi again featured for Kolkata Mohammedan in the late 50s, playing an inetgral role in the club's Aga Khan Gold Cup triumph over Indonesian club PSM Makassar in 1960 in Dhaka, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).

Victoria SC
Ghazi played for Victoria SC in Dhaka from 1962 to 1963. His best season at the club came in 1962, partnering national teammate Muhammad Umer in attack to win the Dhaka League, Independence Day Cup, Mohammad Ali Bogra Shield and Aga Khan Gold Cup.

Dhaka Mohammedan
During the Aga Khan Gold Cup in Dhaka before 1971, a match turned into war. Karachi Port Trust were leading the match against Dhaka Mohammedan. Ghazi, representing Dhaka Mohammedan, told the fans to raid the pitch. Musa, although a great player, contrasted with his brother Abid Ghazi, who was equally a superb footballer and calm unlike Musa.

Dilkusha SC
In 1969, Musa helped newly promoted, Dilkusha SC, finish league runners-up. His teammates that season included the likes of national teammates - Muhammad Umer, Qadir Bakhsh and Abdul Ghafoor. He left for Pakistan following the Independence of Bangladesh in 1971.

International career
After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, he returned with his family to Pakistan. He was offered Indian citizenship in the 1950s but opted to sit tight.

Under his leadership, the Pakistan national football team were able to achieve the top three Asian rankings in the late 1950s and 1960s, a far cry from its current 50th rankings among Asia's 60 teams. His brother Abid Ghazi was also a footballer who captained the Pakistan national team. He played a crucial role in the 1962 Merdeka Tournament scoring several goals, as Pakistan ended runner up after falling to Singapore by 1–2 in the final.

Death
Ghazi died on 12 May 2003, at the age of 75. He spent his last years in poverty.

Honours
East Bengal
 * Durand Cup: 1956–57
 * IFA Shield: 1958
 * DCM Trophy: 1957

Kolkata Mohammedan
 * Aga Khan Gold Cup: 1960

Victoria SC
 * Dhaka League: 1962
 * Aga Khan Gold Cup: 1962
 * Independence Day Cup: 1962
 * Mohammad Ali Bogra Shield: 1962, 1963

Dhaka Mohammedan
 * Dhaka League: 1965, 1966
 * Aga Khan Gold Cup: 1964 (shared with Karachi Port Trust)

Dilkusha SC
 * Dhaka League runner-up: 1969

Pakistan
 * Merdeka Tournament runner-up: 1962

Individual
 * Most goals in DCM Trophy: 12 (with East Bengal).