Qazi Ashfaq (12 December 1967 – 13 November 2001) was a Pakistani footballer who played as a forward. Considered one of the major Pakistani footballers in the 1990s, he was praised for his skill, speed, and leadership.[1] He was the author of the starter goal in the final against Maldives, which saw Pakistan retain their second title in the 1991 South Asian Games.[2]
.jpg) Ashfaq with Pakistan at the 1997 SAFF Gold Cup | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Qazi Mohamed Ashfaq | ||
| Date of birth | 12 December 1967 | ||
| Place of birth | Hasan Abdal, Pakistan | ||
| Date of death | 13 November 2001 (aged 33) | ||
| Place of death | Lahore, Pakistan | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Wohaib | |||
| 1989–1990 | Punjab | ||
| 1990–1996 | WAPDA | ||
| 1996–2000 | Allied Bank | ||
| International career | |||
| 1991–1995 | Pakistan U23 | ||
| 1989–1999 | Pakistan | (3) | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Early life
editAshfaq was born on 12 December 1967 in Hassan Abdal, in the Attock district of Pakistan, with his family originally belonging from Lakki Marwat in the neighbouring North Western Frontier Province.[3]
Club career
editIn 1990, Ashfaq featured in the National Youth Football Championship.[4][5][6]
Ashfaq initially played for Wohaib FC until joining Punjab, where he won the National Football Championship and played in the 1989–90 Asian Club Championship.
Later on, he joined WAPDA where he won his second league title and played in the 1991 Asian Club Championship.[3]
Ashfaq played a key role in helping Allied Bank football club where he was vice-captain from 1996 to 2000, winning the National Challenge Cup in 1996, 1998 and 1999.[3] He also won the National Football Championship twice with Allied Bank, first in 1997, and then in 1999.[7][8]
International career
editAshfaq joined the Pakistan national under-23 team for the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Qualifiers. He made his international debut on 22 October 1989 against Nepal in the 1989 South Asian Games. The match played at the Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad was tied 0–0.[9] Ashfaq scored his first international goal in a 2–0 victory against Maldives in his second game, as Pakistan passed the group stages and won the title by defeating Bangladesh in the final.[10]
In the subsequent 1991 South Asian Games in Colombo under the captainship of Ghulam Sarwar, Ashfaq scored against Bangladesh,[11] qualifying Pakistan for the final against Maldives. In the dying minutes of the game, Ashfaq scored the first goal in the 83rd minute before Mohammad Nauman Khan, finishing the match by a 2–0 victory for Pakistan, and winning their second title in the competition.[2][12][13]
Ashfaq also represented the national team in the inaugural 1993 SAFF Championship in Lahore, 1995 in Colombo, 1997 in Kathmandhu,[14][15] and 1999 in Goa. He was also present in the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.[16]
He was the captain of the national team from 1996 until 1999 before Haroon Yousaf.[17] Under his captaincy, Pakistan achieved the bronze medal at the 1997 SAFF Gold Cup.[18]
Death
editAshfaq passed away on 13 November 2001 at the Shaukat Khanum Hospital in Lahore, after fighting cancer for two years.[1] At the time of his death, he was reportedly wearing the shirt of his club Allied Bank, for which he had played in the later years of his career.
Career statistics
editInternational goals
edit- Scores and results list Pakistan's goal tally first.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24 October 1989 | Jinnah Sports Stadium, Islamabad, Pakistan |  Maldives
|
2–0 | 2–0 | 1989 South Asian Games | [10] |
| 2 | 24 December 1991 | Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka |  Bangladesh
|
1–0 | 1–0 | 1991 South Asian Games | [11] |
| 3 | 29 December 1991 | Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka | Maldives
|
1–0 | 2–0 | 1991 South Asian Games | [2] |
Honours
editPunjab
edit- Allied Bank
- National Football Championship: 1997(1), 1999
- Pakistan National Football Challenge Cup: 1996, 1998, 1999
Pakistan
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Ahsan, Ali (2010-12-23). "A history of football in Pakistan — Part III". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
- ^ a b c "5th South Asian Federation Games 1991 (Colombo, Sri Lanka)". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 2 June 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
- ^ a b c Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Qazi Ashfaq (Player)". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ "U-18 Football Championship starts". Brecorder. 2007-08-28. Archived from the original on 2024-08-07. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
- ^ "Faisalabad win U-18 soccer final". Brecorder. 2007-09-08. Archived from the original on 2024-08-07. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
- ^ "PFF approves Lahore as championship host". DAWN.COM. 2009-10-01. Archived from the original on 2024-09-24. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
- ^ "Pakistan 1997". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 2023-07-14. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
- ^ "Pakistan 1999". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 18 February 2023. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
- ^ "6th South Asian Federation Games 1993 (Bangladesh)". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
- ^ a b Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Pakistan vs. Maldives". www.national-football-teams.com. Archived from the original on 18 August 2024. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ a b Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Pakistan vs. Bangladesh". www.national-football-teams.com. Archived from the original on 17 January 2024. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
- ^ Nasir, Saad (19 June 2023). "Pakistan Football Team's 5 Best Wins in History". ProPakistani. Archived from the original on 16 August 2023.
- ^ "Qasim becomes MTFC coach". The Nation. 2010-05-30. Archived from the original on 2024-11-12. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
- ^ "AFC qualifiers: Pakistan to clash with Sri Lanka". DAWN.COM. 2009-04-07. Archived from the original on 6 November 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
- ^ "Third AFC Challenge Cup: Pakistan require clear-cut win over Sri Lanka today". Brecorder. 2009-04-08. Archived from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
- ^ "Pakistan - National Team Players". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
- ^ "Haroon Yousaf". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 16 August 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
- ^ "Colombo to host Pakistan, Sri Lanka clash". The Nation. 2009-03-30. Archived from the original on 18 August 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-10.
External links
edit- Qazi Ashfaq at National-Football-Teams.com
- 11vs11 Profile – Qazi Muhammad Ashfaq
- Ashfaq goal against Maldives in the 1991 South Asian Games final