Zafar Iqbal (footballer) explained

Zafar Iqbal
Fullname:Zafar Iqbal Baloch
Birth Date:1965 2, df=yes
Position:Defender
Years1:1983–1984
Clubs1:PWD
Years2:1984
Clubs2:KMC
Years3:1984
Clubs3:Sindh Government Press
Years4:1985–1995
Clubs4:Pakistan Airlines
Clubs5:→ Wohaib (loan)
Years5:1992–1993
Nationalyears1:1985–1995
Nationalteam1:Pakistan
Birth Place:Karachi, Pakistan
Managerclubs1:Pakistan Airlines
Manageryears1:2015–2019

Zafar Iqbal Baloch (born 3 February 1965) is a Pakistani former footballer who played as a defender. He played for Pakistan Airlines throughout his career, managing the team in the 2010s. Iqbal captained the Pakistan national team in the 1993 SAARC Gold Cup.[1] He also won gold twice with Pakistan at the 1989 and 1991 South Asian Games.

Club career

Iqbal started his career with National Football Championship departmental side Pakistan Public Works Department (PWD) in 1983. A year later, Iqbal represented KMC and Sindh Government Press.[2]

He later moved to Pakistan Airlines in 1985 where he played for the side till 1995 and winning the National Football Championship twice. He was also borrowed by Wohaib FC to take part in the 1992–93 Asian Club Championship.[3]

International career

Iqbal made his international debut on 22nd December 1985 in a match against Maldives in the second 1985 South Asian Games held in Bangladesh. During his consequent decade long international career where he featured as a regular starter, he only was omitted from the squad during the 1987 South Asian Games in India.

He also featured at the 1986 Fajr International Tournament in Tehran. He started against Poland under-21 team losing by 0–3, and played against Iran where he got a red card at the 43rd minute in the eventual 0–1 defeat.[4] He played at the Karachi President Gold Cup tournament in the same year. A year later he represented the side at the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul.

In 1989, he was regular starter at the 1990 FIFA World Cup qualification in the country's first participation in the tournament, featuring in all the four games.[5] He also featured in the 1990 Asian Games.[6] He also won gold twice with Pakistan at the 1989 and 1991 South Asian Games. He captained the national team at the 1993 SAARC Gold Cup.[7] [8] [9] [10] He also featured in Pakistan's second participation at the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification in 1993, playing in all eight matches where Pakistan again ended up unsuccessful.[11] He made more than 20 appearances for the national team throughout his career.[12]

Coaching career

In 2005, Iqbal served as assistant coach of the Pakistan national under-17 team during the 2006 AFC U-17 Championship qualification.[13]

After his retirement as player, Iqbal served as manager and coach of the Pakistan Airlines football team.[14] [15] [16] He replaced former PIA coach Shamim Khan in 2015.[17]

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 March 1995Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka1–01–01995 South Asian Gold Cup[18]

Honours

Pakistan

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2006-11-18 . SPORTS WORLD: End to gloomy era of Pakistan football in sight . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230815104230/http://www.brecorder.com/news/3337898 . 15 August 2023 . 2024-08-07 . Brecorder . en.
  2. Web site: 2013-02-27 . فٹ بال ہیروز کی دنیا . World of Football Heroes . 2024-11-29 . e.dunya.com.pk.
  3. Web site: Ahsan . Ali . 2010-12-23 . A history of football in Pakistan — Part III . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240725091728/https://www.dawn.com/2010/12/23/a-history-of-football-in-pakistan-part-iii/ . 25 July 2024 . 2024-08-07 . DAWN.COM . en.
  4. Web site: 1986 Fajr International Tournament . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240229015204/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesf/fajr86.html . 29 February 2024 . 2024-08-07 . www.rsssf.org.
  5. Web site: International Matches 1989 - Asia . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230604184339/https://www.rsssf.org/intldetails/1989as.html . 4 June 2023 . 2024-08-07 . www.rsssf.org.
  6. Web site: International Matches 1990 - Asia . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231015033842/https://www.rsssf.org/intldetails/1990as.html . 15 October 2023 . 2024-08-07 . www.rsssf.org.
  7. Web site: 2007-09-21 . PFF president praised for giving boost to football . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240124171149/http://www.brecorder.com/news/3436666 . 24 January 2024 . 2024-08-07 . Brecorder . en.
  8. Web site: 2008-07-03 . AFC coaches’ seminar concludes . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240818134313/https://www.dawn.com/news/310081/newspaper/newspaper/column . 18 August 2024 . 2024-08-07 . DAWN.COM . en.
  9. Web site: 2009-12-09 . Ex-skippers hail football team . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240817151016/https://nation.com.pk/09-Dec-2009/Exskippers-hail-football-team . 17 August 2024 . 2024-08-11 . The Nation . en-US.
  10. Web site: 2010-09-05 . PFF chief's efforts for Asian Games football hailed . live . http://web.archive.org/web/20240924015225/https://www.brecorder.com/news/3798032/pff-chiefs-efforts-for-asian-games-football-hailed-201009051099878 . 2024-09-24 . 2024-10-12 . Brecorder . en.
  11. Web site: International Matches 1993 - Asia . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230415172525/https://www.rsssf.org/intldetails/1993as.html . 15 April 2023 . 2024-08-07 . www.rsssf.org.
  12. Web site: Strack-Zimmermann . Benjamin . Zafar Iqbal (Player) . 2024-08-07 . www.national-football-teams.com . en.
  13. Web site: 2005-11-12 . Pakistan U-17 team leaves for New Delhi . 2024-11-29 . DAWN.COM . en.
  14. Web site: natasha.raheel . 2016-10-21 . All-Pakistan Football Challenge Cup: PIA upset PAF 2-0 to claim title . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240807155153/https://tribune.com.pk/story/1204847/pakistan-football-challenge-cup-pia-upset-paf-2-0-claim-title . 2024-08-07 . 2024-08-07 . The Express Tribune . en.
  15. Web site: natasha.raheel . 2016-02-06 . PIA’s football club may shut down due to crisis . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240813063527/https://tribune.com.pk/story/1041126/pias-football-club-may-shut-down-due-to-crisis . 2024-08-13 . 2024-08-07 . The Express Tribune . en.
  16. Web site: 2006-09-23 . Local coaches attend AFC course . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240807155158/https://www.dawn.com/news/211642/local-coaches-attend-afc-course . 2024-08-07 . 2024-08-07 . DAWN.COM . en.
  17. Web site: Dividend for K-Electric, at last Sports thenews.com.pk . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240807155153/https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/557946-football-dividend-for-k-electric-at-last . 2024-08-07 . 2024-08-07 . www.thenews.com.pk . en.
  18. Web site: Strack-Zimmermann . Benjamin . Pakistan vs. Bangladesh . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240807135538/https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/27931/Pakistan_Bangladesh.html . 2024-08-07 . 2024-08-07 . www.national-football-teams.com . en.

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