Masood Fakhri Explained

Masood Fakhri
Fullname:Masood Fakhri
Birth Date:16 November 1932
Birth Place:Toba Tek Singh, Punjab, British India
Death Place:Bangor Teifi, Wales
Position:Left winger
Youthyears1:1949–1950
Youthclubs1:Pakistan Raiders Club
Years1:1950–1952
Clubs1:Punjab
Years2:1952
Clubs2:Pakistan Raiders Club
Years3:1952–1954
Clubs3:East Bengal
Goals3:25
Years4:1953
Clubs4:Pakistan Railways
Years5:1954
Clubs5:Punjab
Years6:1955–1956
Clubs6:Mohammedan
Years7:1956–1957
Clubs7:Bradford City
Caps7:0
Goals7:0
Nationalyears1:1952–1956
Nationalteam1:Pakistan[1]

Masood Fakhri (pa|{{Nastaliq|مسعود فخری; 16 November 1932 – 6 September 2016) was a Pakistani professional footballer who played as a left winger.[2] [3] A former Pakistani international, Fakhri was well known for his time with Indian Kolkata clubs East Bengal and Mohammedan.[4] [5] [6] He was the first Pakistani football player to score a hat trick in an international game, and the first player from South Asia to play in England, where he played for Bradford City before retiring.[7]

Early life

Fakhri was born in 16 November 1932 in Toba Tek Singh, Punjab, In 1955 Saadat Hasan Manto’s highly-acclaimed short story Toba Tek Singh immortalised this town.

Club career

Early career

Fakhri began his career with Pakistan Raiders Club of Lahore in 1949.[8] At the age of 18, he represented Punjab in the second National Football Championship at Quetta in 1950 and won the third season played two years later in 1952.[9] [10] He also returned to Raiders Club the same year to play in the Rovers Cup in India where his team lost to Bombay Amateurs in the semi-finals and beat Central Railways in the third place match.[11] [12]

East Bengal

He started playing for clubs in India in 1952, and was 20-year-old when he signed with Calcutta Football League side East Bengal.[13] [14] [15] During his first season with the club, Fakhri helped his side win the Calcutta Football League and the prestigious Durand Cup.[16] [17] [8] Fakhri usually played as a left-winger and had scored 14 goals in the Calcutta Football League alongside scoring the winning goals in his first two matches against East Bengal's biggest rivals, Mohun Bagan, and thus became a fan favorite among East Bengal supporters.[8] Fakhri also helped the team win the DCM Trophy.[8] [18]

From April to May 1953 he also returned to Pakistan representing Pakistan Railways at the National Football Championship. Upon returning to Kolkata, he was part of the East Bengal team that played against German side Kickers Offenbach the following month.[19]

In August 1953, he was part of the East Bengal senior team's tour to the World Youth Festival in Bucharest, where he scored a goal against Lebanon XI in their 6–1 win and against Germany in the third-place play-offs in a 2–5 defeat.[20] He also featured in the friendly against FC Torpedo Moscow the same month.[21] [22] The team returned from Europe to participate in the IFA Shield and reached the final where they faced Indian Cultural League. In August 1953, the Pakistan Football Federation reportedly prohibited Pakistani players from playing in India without a permit,[23] [24] but East Bengal still fielded Masood Fakhri and fellow countryman Niaz Ahmed, stating they had received permission from the PFF. On 3 October 1953, in the 1953 IFA Shield final against the Indian Cultural League on the third replayed final, Fakhri scored for East Bengal and the game ended in a 1–1 tie.[25] The I.C.L. team lodged a complaint with the Indian Football Association immediately after the match against East Bengal over their fielding the Pakistani players. On 11 October 1953, the IFA announced I.C.L. as the winners of the IFA Shield[26] [27] after East Bengal failed to produce a written permit for the Pakistani players from the PFF and suspended the club from all football activities until 31 December 1954. East Bengal challenged the decision and took the IFA to court after receiving a letter from the PFF president, Dr. A. M. Malik on 25 October 1953,[28] and had their suspension revoked.[29]

Return to Punjab

In 1954, when the National Football Championship was held in Lahore, he returned to his former team this time featuring with the name of Punjab Blue, scoring in the 80th and 85th minutes against Railways in the final winning by 3–0.

Mohammedan Sporting

In 1955, Fakhri signed with another Kolkata club, Mohammedan. In 1956, he helped Mohammedan win the prestigious Rovers Cup title.[8]

Bradford City

Bert Flatley, a coach with the Football Association (FA) in England, communicated to Fakhri the possibility of a move to Bradford City. The club then competed in the third tier of English football league system. After negotiations with the then manager Peter Jackson, Fakhri finally signed for the club on 8 August 1956 In 1956. After playing one season with the club, he prematurely quit football for personal reasons in 1957.[8] [30]

International career

Fakhri had represented Pakistan at international level in the preceding years.[31] Fakhri had most notably scored a hat-trick and became the first player from Pakistan to do so as his national team thumped Singapore 6–2 in a group match at the 1954 Asian Games in Manila, Philippines. He completed the hat-trick in 5 minutes, scoring at the 42nd, 43rd and 47th minutes of the match. He had also scored goals against India and Myanmar during the period.[32]

Personal life

Fakhri married Rhoda Eileen and lived in Llanrwst, North Wales. His brother's family settled in Great Britain as well.

Post-retirement

After retiring from football, Fakhri lived out the rest of his life living in Bangor Teifi, Wales.[8]

He died in September 2016 at the Gwynedd Hospital in Wales.[33]

Career statistics

International goals

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

No.! scope="col"
DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
125 April 1954Jalan Besar Stadium, Kallang, Singapore2–2Friendly[34]
22 May 1954Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila, Philippines3–16–21954 Asian Games[35]
34–1
45–2
55 May 1954Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila, Philippines2–12–11954 Asian Games
619 December 1954Calcutta FC Ground, Kolkata, India1–11954 Asian Quadrangular Football Tournament[36]
726 December 1954Calcutta FC Ground, Kolkata, India1–31954 Asian Quadrangular Football Tournament
821 December 1955Dacca Stadium, Dhaka, East Pakistan2–11955 Asian Quadrangular Football Tournament
9
1024 December 1955Dacca Stadium, Dhaka, East Pakistan1–21955 Asian Quadrangular Football Tournament

Honours

Punjab

East Bengal

1952[37]

1952[38] Mohammedan Sporting

1956

Pakistan

[39] [40] 1952; runner-up: 1953, 1955; third-place: 1954[41]

See also

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: An uneven rivalry. 11 September 2018. 3 July 2021. 9 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709185035/https://www.thedailystar.net/sports/football/news/uneven-rivalry-1632193. live.
  2. Web site: Ali. Ahsan. A history of football in Pakistan – Part I. Dawn. www.dawn.com. 23 December 2010. 1 March 2014. Karachi, Pakistan. https://web.archive.org/web/20220904220323/https://www.dawn.com/2010/12/23/a-history-of-football-in-pakistan-part-i/. 4 September 2022.
  3. News: 4 October 1953 . I.C.L. and East Bengal Draw for the Third Time - Pak Players Included in Calcuta Side - Bombay Team Lodge Protest After Match . The Indian Express . 5 July 2021 . 5 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210705094824/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nMw-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=W0wMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6586%2C427740 . live .
  4. Web site: soumen78 . List of Foreign Players to Play for East Bengal Club from 1942 – East Bengal Club, India – Records, Funs and Facts . Eastbengalclubrecords.wordpress.com . 2016-03-31 . 2018-12-18 . 19 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181019001914/https://eastbengalclubrecords.wordpress.com/2016/03/31/list-of-foreign-players-to-play-for-east-bengal-club-from-1942/ . live .
  5. Web site: TEAM ARCHIVES - East Bengal FC . 13 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190609144422/https://www.eastbengalfootballclub.com/team-archives.php . 9 June 2019.
  6. Web site: TEAM ARCHIVES - East Bengal FC . 13 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191108213722/http://eastbengalclub.co.in/teamarchives.html . 8 November 2019.
  7. Web site: East Bengal Club - Legends . https://web.archive.org/web/20181127153453/http://eastbengalclub.co.in/legends.html . 27 November 2018 . 1 July 2021 . eastbengalclub.co.in . Masood Fakhri: Left-Out. Played for East Bengal from 1952 - 1954. He hailed from Pakistan and was the first sub-continent Footballer to play professional league in England for a couple of years from 1955. He toured USSR and Romania with East Bengal Club in 1953..
  8. News: Sarmah. Bhargab. Masood Fakhri: Pakistan's Football Wizard Who Captivated Kolkata Maidan. 18 September 2016. NDTV Sports. 17 September 2016. 19 September 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160919073334/http://sports.ndtv.com/football/features/262902-masood-fakhri-pakistan-s-football-wizard-who-captivated-kolkata-maidan. dead.
  9. Web site: natasha.raheel . 2016-09-12 . Unsung hero: Former Pakistani footballer Masood Fakhri passes away . 2024-07-07 . The Express Tribune . en.
  10. Web site: Civil & Military Gazette (Lahore) - Friday 17 April 1954 . 2024-07-07 . British Newspaper Archive.
  11. News: 26 September 1952 . রোভার্স কাপে পাকিস্তানি দল, ইস্টবেঙ্গলের ফকরি ও রিয়াসত আলির যোগদানের কথা . Pakistani team in Rovers Cup, Fakhri and Riasat Ali to join from East Bengal . Jugantor . bn.
  12. News: 2015-08-31 . 1965: The year India, Pakistan began sparring in sports . 2024-08-05 . The Times of India . 0971-8257.
  13. Web site: The World Sports Today. 1 August 2020. 100 years of East Bengal: A timeline of Kolkata giant's key milestones. The World Sports Today. 26 June 2021. 27 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210627161358/https://theworldsportstoday.com/100-years-of-east-bengal-a-timeline-of-kolkata-giants-key-milestones/. live.
  14. Web site: Joydeep. Basu. 25 January 2021. Indian football: Fred Pugsley, Chima Okorie, Ranti Martins – the foreign strikers who shone in India. Scroll.in. 26 June 2021. 14 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210514105606/https://scroll.in/field/985042/indian-football-fred-pugsley-chima-okorie-ranti-martins-the-foreign-strikers-who-shone-in-india. live.
  15. Web site: Ritabrata. Banerjee. 16 May 2020. Indian Football - The 10 best foreigners to have played for East Bengal. Goal. 27 June 2021. 14 February 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210214231557/https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/indian-football-east-bengal-10-best-foreigners/10npgrhj9eyrc1969hv0yp2uqf. live.
  16. Web site: Sen. Debayan. 1 August 2020. A century of excellence: East Bengal's greatest hits. ESPN. 24 June 2021. 24 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210624211824/https://www.espn.in/football/east-bengal/story/4139529/a-century-of-excellence-east-bengals-greatest-hits. live.
  17. Web site: Sayan. Chatterjee. 6 April 2021. Top 5 foreign footballers to have played in India. 26 June 2021. 27 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210627161354/https://thebridge.in/football/top-5-foreign-footballers-india-20628. live.
  18. Web site: The saga of East Bengal – The Hindu. www.thehindu.com. 9 June 2019. 2 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210702111559/https://frontline.thehindu.com/other/sport/article30218648.ece.
  19. Web site: Neil Morrison . 12 November 2015 . Kickers Offenbach (West Germany) Asian tour 1953 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211019153551/http://www.rsssf.com/tableso/ofckickers-asia53.html . 19 October 2021 . 24 June 2021 . Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.
  20. Web site: History - East Bengal Club . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190930123415/https://eastbengalclub.co.in/history.html . 30 September 2019 . 9 November 2019 . East Bengal Club.
  21. Web site: Soccer Barefoot 1953 (21.08) Torpedo (Ussr) - East Bengal Club (India)- 3-3. Aleks Chistogan – thewikihow . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190609103141/https://thewikihow.com/video_efPFVqY0BYU . 9 June 2019 . 3 July 2021 . www.thewikihow.com.
  22. Web site: Roy . Gautam . Ball . Swapan . 2007 . East Bengal Football Club – Famous Players . https://web.archive.org/web/20090221072434/http://www.eastbengalfootballclub.com/club/famousPlayers3.asp . 21 February 2009 . 25 February 2009 . www.eastbengalfootballclub.com.
  23. News: PTI . 4 September 1953 . Pak Soccer Players Debarred from Playing in India . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221225193032/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NAJFAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZbcMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4477,4438339 . 25 December 2022 . 26 December 2022 . The Indian Express.
  24. News: PTI . 2 August 1953 . SUSPENDED PAK PLAYERS CAN'T PLAY IN INDIA . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210928180202/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FAJFAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZbcMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3226,2165351 . 28 September 2021 . 28 September 2021 . The Indian Express.
  25. News: 4 October 1953 . I.C.L. and East Bengal Draw for the Third Time - Pak Players Included in Calcuta Side - Bombay Team Lodge Protest After Match . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210705094824/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nMw-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=W0wMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6586%2C427740 . 5 July 2021 . 5 July 2021 . The Indian Express.
  26. News: 12 October 1953 . I.C.L. Awarded IFA Shield - Suspension of East Bengal recommended . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210705094824/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pMw-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=W0wMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6886%2C927703 . 5 July 2021 . 5 July 2021 . The Indian Express.
  27. Web site: India - List of IFA Shield Finals . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20121031142319/http://rsssf.com/tablesi/india-ifahist.html . 31 October 2012 . 5 July 2021 . RSSSF.
  28. News: 2 November 1953 . I.F.A. Tourney Committee Asked to Reconsider Decision on E. Bengal . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210705121349/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uMw-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=W0wMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6806%2C2270096 . 5 July 2021 . 5 July 2021 . The Indian Express.
  29. News: 9 November 1953 . E. BENGAL CLUB OBTAIN INTERIM INJUNCTION - Suspension By I.F.A. Taken Before Calcutta High Court . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210705121430/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vsw-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=W0wMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4495%2C2669346 . 5 July 2021 . 5 July 2021 . The Indian Express.
  30. https://www.sportscrunch.in/legendary-pakistani-footballer-masood-fakhri-silently-passes-away-at-83-in-wales/ Legendary Pakistani footballer Masood Fakhri silently passes away at 83 in Wales
  31. News: Kapadia . Novy . 24 April 1983 . Puran Bahadur Thapa: India's first hat-trick man . Sportskeeda . live . 6 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211028070923/https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/puran-bahadur-thapa-indias-first-hat-trick-man . 28 October 2021.
  32. News: Bhattacharya . Nilesh . 13 September 2016 . Masood Fakhri, ex-East Bengal football star from Pakistan, no more . Times of India . live . 18 September 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170114195219/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/Masood-Fakhri-ex-East-Bengal-football-star-from-Pakistan-no-more/articleshow/54311890.cms . 14 January 2017.
  33. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/masood-fakhri-ex-east-bengal-football-star-from-pakistan-no-more/articleshow/54311890.cms Masood Fakhri, ex-East Bengal football star from Pakistan, no more
  34. Web site: Page 12 Singapore Standard, 26 April 1954 . 2024-09-29 . eresources.nlb.gov.sg.
  35. Web site: Asian Games 1954 . 2024-07-18 . www.rsssf.org.
  36. Web site: Asian Quadrangular Tournament (Colombo Cup) 1952-1955 . 2024-07-18 . www.rsssf.org.
  37. Web site: Armband. 9 November 2019. East Bengal Football Club : History and Emergence. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200609193043/https://www.sports-nova.com/2019/11/09/east-bengal-football-club-history-and-emergence-as-indian-superpower/. 9 June 2020. 9 June 2020. Sports-nova. en-GB.
  38. Web site: Banerjee. Ritabrata. 12 April 2020. Indian Football: Down the memory lane – East Bengal's 'Golden era' of 1970s. 1 August 2020. www.goal.com. Goal. 1 March 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210301125229/https://www.goal.com/en-in/news/indian-football-down-the-memory-lane-east-bengal-golden-era/sm5c7t807v011wmkp5wjj6zvs. live.
  39. Web site: Asian Quadrangular Tournament (Colombo Cup) 1952-1955. RSSSF. 29 September 2021. 27 July 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140727145000/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesb/brindies-quad.html. live.
  40. Web site: The Indian National Team at the Colombo Cup. indianfootball.de. 29 September 2021. 13 June 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20030613163424/http://indianfootball.de/data/colombocup.html. live.
  41. Web site: Asian Quadrangular Tournament 1954 (Calcutta, India). . Neil. Morrison. 1999. 17 August 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220927000411/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/brindies-quad.html. 27 September 2022.

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