Zafar Iqbal (footballer)

For other people with the same name, see Zafar Iqbal (disambiguation).
Zafar Iqbal
Iqbal with Pakistan at the 1986 Fajr International Tournament
Personal information
Full name Zafar Iqbal Baloch
Date of birth (1965-02-03) 3 February 1965 (age 59)
Place of birth Karachi, Pakistan
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1983–1984 PWD
1984 KMC
1984 Sindh Government Press
1985–1995 Pakistan Airlines
1992–1993 → Wohaib (loan)
International career
1985–1995 Pakistan
Managerial career
2015–2019 Pakistan Airlines
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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.[2] 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.[2]

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.[2]

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][1][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.
List of international goals scored by Zafar Iqbal
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 25 March 1995 Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka  Bangladesh 1–0 1–0 1995 South Asian Gold Cup [18]

Honours

Pakistan

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "SPORTS WORLD: End to gloomy era of Pakistan football in sight". Brecorder. 2006-11-18. Archived from the original on 15 August 2023. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  2. ^ a b c d "فٹ بال ہیروز کی دنیا" [World of Football Heroes]. e.dunya.com.pk. 2013-02-27. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  3. ^ Ahsan, Ali (2010-12-23). "A history of football in Pakistan — Part III". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  4. ^ "1986 Fajr International Tournament". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  5. ^ "International Matches 1989 - Asia". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  6. ^ "International Matches 1990 - Asia". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 15 October 2023. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  7. ^ "PFF president praised for giving boost to football". Brecorder. 2007-09-21. Archived from the original on 24 January 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  8. ^ "AFC coaches' seminar concludes". DAWN.COM. 2008-07-03. Archived from the original on 18 August 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  9. ^ "Ex-skippers hail football team". The Nation. 2009-12-09. Archived from the original on 17 August 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
  10. ^ "PFF chief's efforts for Asian Games football hailed". Brecorder. 2010-09-05. Archived from the original on 2024-09-24. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
  11. ^ "International Matches 1993 - Asia". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  12. ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Zafar Iqbal (Player)". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  13. ^ "Pakistan U-17 team leaves for New Delhi". DAWN.COM. 2005-11-12. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  14. ^ natasha.raheel (2016-10-21). "All-Pakistan Football Challenge Cup: PIA upset PAF 2-0 to claim title". The Express Tribune. Archived from the original on 2024-08-07. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  15. ^ natasha.raheel (2016-02-06). "PIA's football club may shut down due to crisis". The Express Tribune. Archived from the original on 2024-08-13. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  16. ^ "Local coaches attend AFC course". DAWN.COM. 2006-09-23. Archived from the original on 2024-08-07. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  17. ^ "Dividend for K-Electric, at last | Sports | thenews.com.pk". www.thenews.com.pk. Archived from the original on 2024-08-07. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  18. ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Pakistan vs. Bangladesh". www.national-football-teams.com. Archived from the original on 2024-08-07. Retrieved 2024-08-07.