Ali Nawaz Baloch Explained

Ali Nawaz Baloch
Fullname:Ali Nawaz Baloch
Birth Date:3 July 1949
Birth Place:Lyari, Karachi, Pakistan
Death Place:Karachi, Pakistan
Position:Striker
Years1:1969
Clubs1:Dhaka Mohammedan
Years2:1970
Clubs2:EPIDC
Years3:1970s
Clubs3:Emirates
Years4:1970s
Clubs4:Pakistan Airlines
Nationalyears1:1967–1974
Nationalteam1:Pakistan

Ali Nawaz Baloch PP (Urdu: {{Nastaliq|علی نواز بلوچ; 3 July 1949 – 28 October 2022) was a Pakistani professional footballer who played as a striker. Renowned for his goal-scoring abilities and hat-tricks, he is widely considered as one of the greatest Pakistani footballers of all time.[1] [2] [3]

Rising through the ranks from school football, Nawaz represented clubs from Dhaka in East Pakistan and is one of the Pakistani footballers who represented clubs in the United Arab Emirates in the 1970s. He emerged as the top-scorer of the 1975–76 UAE Football League with Emirates SC. He later represented Pakistan Airlines in his later years. Nawaz also served as a coach in the United Arab Emirates for five years. Nawaz represented the Pakistan national football team from 1967 to 1974, captaining the team in the last year.

In recognition of his contributions to the sport, Nawaz was honored with the Pride of Performance Award by the Government of Pakistan in 1996.

Early life

Nawaz was born in Lyari on 3 July 1949.[4] [5]

Club career

Nawaz started playing football since young. The school he attended, the Jamia Islamia Khadda Haji Sir Abdullah Haroon School, catered specially to aspiring footballers.Nawaz was also revered for his goal-scoring abilities in East Pakistan, where he played for Dhaka Mohammedan during the late 1960s, scoring a triple hat-trick while playing for the club against a Middle-Eastern outfit.[6] [7] [8] The feat earned him the name of 'Goal-making machine' after.[9]

During the 1970s, several local leagues were launched across the Middle East, where several Pakistani players represented club sides in these leagues and some of these players even coached the clubs’ new youth setups.[10] Subsequently, Nawaz moved to the United Arab Emirates, where he featured for Emirates SC in the mid-1970s.[11] [12] He played for the Abu Dhabi based club for five years.[13] [14] He emerged as the top-scorer of the 1975–76 UAE Football League season with 13 goals.[15] He also played alongside national teammate Ghulam Sarwar at the club.[16]

He played for Pakistan Airlines in his later years.[17] He also played for local Karachi club Meher Sports FC during the 1970s.[18]

International career

Nawaz represented Pakistan from 1967 to 1974. He captained the national team at the 1974 RCD Cup.[19]

Coaching career

He began his coaching career in the United Arab Emirates before returning to Pakistan where he was coach and manager of the Pakistan Airlines football team.[20] He served as a coach in the United Arab Emirates for five years. Nawaz also took the Pakistan youth football team to UAE in 1993.[21] In 2001, he was member of the coaching staff during the tour of the Pakistan national team to England.[22] [23] [24]

Personal life

Nawaz's uncle, Dad Muhammad, also played as a striker in Pakistani football.[25]

During his stay in the United Arab Emirates, Nawaz was offered nationality of the country, which he reportedly turned down. He returned to Karachi in 1980 after coaching in the gulf. He remained vice president of the Pakistan Football Federation for 16 years beginning in 1986 and as manager of sports in Pakistan Airlines football team, also coaching the club.

Nawaz has cited Maradona as his idol, and was present in the crowd during the opening match of the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy, during a match between Argentina against Cameroon. He also served as the member of AFC Expert Committee from 1990 till 1993.

Nawaz was awarded the Pride of Performance Award from the Pakistan government in 1996, due to his contributions to the sport.[26]

In his honour, the D Chaudhary Road in Lyari where the house in which Baloch was born, was renamed as Ali Nawaz Baloch Road on 4 August 2008.

Nawaz received the AFC Distinguished Service Award in 2013, which was presented by FIFA President Sepp Blatter and AFC President Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa.[27] He also served as member of the Sindh Football Association,[28] and as match commissioner of the Pakistan Premier League in his late years.[29] [30] [31] [32]

On 28 June 2013, Nawaz's nephew Saqib Baloch who was a practising boxer was killed in Lyari, allegedly by the Pakistan Rangers.[33]

Death

Nawaz died on 28 October 2022 in Karachi. He had been in hospital for the past several days after suffering a brain haemorrhage.[34] The KMC Stadium where Nawaz played often in the 1960s and 1970s while playing for the Pakistan national team and Pakistan Airlines saw a large gathering of former players, coaches, referees and officials in his funeral prayers.

Honours

Individual

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hasan . Shazia . 2008-09-01 . Documentary on Lyari’s football legends unveiled . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240805175105/https://www.dawn.com/news/319204/documentary-on-lyari-s-football-legends-unveiled . 5 August 2024 . 2024-08-05 . DAWN.COM . en.
  2. Web site: 2009-03-22 . Football: Kottan on . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240805175110/https://www.dawn.com/news/860200/football-kottan-on . 2024-08-05 . 2024-08-05 . DAWN.COM . en.
  3. Web site: 2008-12-22 . Kick-off from Lyari . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240805175106/https://www.dawn.com/news/898360/kick-off-from-lyari . 2024-08-05 . 2024-08-05 . DAWN.COM . en.
  4. Web site: natasha.raheel . 2016-09-12 . Unsung hero: Former Pakistani footballer Masood Fakhri passes away . 2024-08-05 . The Express Tribune . en.
  5. Web site: Correspondent . Our . 2023-06-21 . Kakri Ground ready to host games . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240805175104/https://tribune.com.pk/story/2422794/kakri-ground-ready-to-host-games . 2024-08-05 . 2024-08-05 . The Express Tribune . en.
  6. Web site: Hasan . Shazia . 2020-12-06 . COVER: MARADONA OF PAKISTAN . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240805175104/https://www.dawn.com/news/1594241 . 2024-08-05 . 2024-08-05 . DAWN.COM . en.
  7. Web site: Former Pakistan footballer Ali Nawaz passes away . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240805175103/https://www.geosuper.tv/latest/19603-former-pakistan-footballer-ali-nawaz-passes-away . 2024-08-05 . 2024-08-05 . www.geosuper.tv . en-US.
  8. Web site: Hasan . Shazia . 2008-08-05 . KARACHI: Road in Lyari named after football icon . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150326133440/https://www.dawn.com/news/315010/karachi-road-in-lyari-named-after-football-icon . 26 March 2015 . 2024-08-05 . DAWN.COM . en.
  9. Web site: 2022-11-01 . মোহামেডানের সাবেক ফুটবলার আলী নওয়াজ আর নেই. Former Mohammedan footballer Ali Nawaz is no more. 2024-08-08 . Jugantor . bn.
  10. Web site: Ahsan . Ali . 2010-12-23 . A history of football in Pakistan — Part II . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240804005438/https://www.dawn.com/2010/12/23/a-history-of-football-in-pakistan-part-ii/ . 4 August 2024 . 2024-08-05 . DAWN.COM . en.
  11. Web site: Agencies . 2022-10-29 . Former Pakistan captain Ali Nawaz Baloch passes away . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240805175103/https://www.dawn.com/news/1717446 . 2024-08-05 . 2024-08-05 . DAWN.COM . en.
  12. Web site: 2002-06-25 . Senior PFF official alleges misuse of FIFA funds . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240805182121/https://www.dawn.com/news/44704/senior-pff-official-alleges-misuse-of-fifa-funds . 2024-08-05 . 2024-08-05 . DAWN.COM . en.
  13. Web site: Former Pakistan football team captain Ali Nawaz passes away in Karachi . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240805223536/https://www.geo.tv/latest/449020-former-pakistan-football-team-captain-ali-nawaz-passes-away-in-karachi . 2024-08-05 . 2024-08-05 . www.geo.tv . en.
  14. Web site: Former Pakistan football captain Ali Nawaz passes away . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240805175103/https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1004372-former-pakistan-football-captain-ali-nawaz-passes-away . 2024-08-05 . 2024-08-05 . www.thenews.com.pk . en.
  15. Web site: الأبطال.. من الهواية إلى الاحتراف . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230416062204/https://www.albayan.ae/sports/emirates/2018-08-30-1.3345610 . 16 April 2023 . AlBayan.ae . ar.
  16. Web site: Former Pakistan captain living below poverty line . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140507033042/http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-10-248402-Former-Pakistan-captain-living-below-poverty-line . 2014-05-07 . 2024-08-06 . www.thenews.com.pk . en.
  17. Web site: HBL football team disbanded . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240531165500/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/84884-HBL-football-team-disbanded . 31 May 2024 . 2024-08-05 . www.thenews.com.pk . en.
  18. Web site: Hasan . Shazia . 2011-12-16 . Land mafia grabs historic Manghopir football ground . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150326130649/https://www.dawn.com/news/681058/land-mafia-grabs-historic-manghopir-football-ground . 26 March 2015 . 2024-08-05 . DAWN.COM . en.
  19. Web site: 2010-07-08 . Ali Nawaz unhappy with performance . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240817163054/https://www.dawn.com/news/545976/ali-nawaz-unhappy-with-performance . 17 August 2024 . 2024-08-05 . DAWN.COM . en.
  20. Web site: 2008-06-19 . Lyari boys challenge national team for open contest . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240817163621/https://www.dawn.com/news/308034/lyari-boys-challenge-national-team-for-open-contest . 17 August 2024 . 2024-08-05 . DAWN.COM . en.
  21. Web site: Ali Nawaz, the legend of Pakistan . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240805175104/https://www.bexpress.com.pk/2022/11/undefined/post?.uri . 2024-08-05 . 2024-08-05 . Daily Balochistan Express, Quetta . en.
  22. Web site: 2001-03-22 . Pakistan football star does a runner from Gigg . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240805175104/https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/6039190.pakistan-football-star-runner-gigg/ . 2024-08-05 . 2024-08-05 . Lancashire Telegraph . en.
  23. Web site: 2001-03-22 . Pakistan football star does a runner from Gigg . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240403224348/https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/6039134.pakistan-football-star-does-a-runner-from-gigg/ . 3 April 2024 . 2024-08-05 . The Bolton News . en.
  24. News: Fifield . Dominic . 2001-03-23 . Pakistan player reported missing in action . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20140509231413/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/mar/23/newsstory.sport3 . 9 May 2014 . 2024-08-05 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  25. Web site: natasha.raheel . 2014-06-30 . The footballer within every Lyariite . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240805175103/https://tribune.com.pk/story/729225/the-footballer-within-every-lyariite . 2024-08-05 . 2024-08-05 . The Express Tribune . en.
  26. Web site: 2022-10-28 . Pakistan football team captain Ali Nawaz passes away . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240805175104/https://dailytimes.com.pk/1019341/former-pakistan-football-team-captain-ali-nawaz-passes-away/ . 2024-08-05 . 2024-08-05 . Daily Times . en-US.
  27. Web site: Wasim . Umaid . 2013-05-01 . Four Pakistanis to receive prestigious AFC awards . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20130508015717/https://www.dawn.com/2013/05/01/invaluable-services-to-football-four-pakistanis-to-receive-prestigious-afc-awards/ . 8 May 2013 . 2024-08-05 . DAWN.COM . en.
  28. Web site: Hasan . Shazia . 2008-12-27 . PFF puts off Goal Project in Karachi: SFA fails to transfer land . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240805182123/https://www.dawn.com/news/336041/pff-puts-off-goal-project-in-karachi-sfa-fails-to-transfer-land . 2024-08-05 . 2024-08-05 . DAWN.COM . en.
  29. Web site: 2005-08-28 . Officials to submit misconduct report to PFF . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240805182122/https://www.dawn.com/news/154213/officials-to-submit-misconduct-report-to-pff . 2024-08-05 . 2024-08-05 . DAWN.COM . en.
  30. Web site: SSGC storm into PFF Cup main round . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240805175103/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/95075-SSGC-storm-into-PFF-Cup-main-round . 2024-08-05 . 2024-08-05 . www.thenews.com.pk . en.
  31. Web site: our.correspondent . 2015-01-01 . Pakistan Premier Football League: K-Electric defeat Railways 1-0 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240805175103/https://tribune.com.pk/story/815719/pakistan-premier-football-league-k-electric-defeat-railways-1-0 . 2024-08-05 . 2024-08-05 . The Express Tribune . en.
  32. Web site: Akhtar slams ongoing National Women Football C’ship over ‘loopholes’ . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240805175104/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/803838-akhtar-slams-ongoing-national-women-football-c-ship-over-loopholes . 2024-08-05 . 2024-08-05 . www.thenews.com.pk . en.
  33. Web site: Baloch . Saher . 2013-06-29 . PPP accuses Rangers of extra-judicial killings in Lyari . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240805175112/https://www.dawn.com/news/1021578/ppp-accuses-rangers-of-extra-judicial-killings-in-lyari . 2024-08-05 . 2024-08-05 . DAWN.COM . en.
  34. Web site: 2022-10-29 . Haroon Malik, NC members express grief over the death of Ali Nawaz . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221029181807/https://www.nation.com.pk/29-Oct-2022/haroon-malik-nc-members-express-grief-over-the-death-of-ali-nawaz . 29 October 2022 . 2024-08-05 . The Nation . en-US.