Sheikh Ghulam Rabbani (died 10 December 2010), was a Pakistani professional footballer who played as a right winger. Rabbani represented the Pakistan national football team from 1954 until the 1960s, captaining the team in 1961.[1][2][3][4]
![]() Rabbani in 1960 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Sheikh Ghulam Rabbani | ||
Date of birth | Unknown | ||
Place of birth | Delhi, British India | ||
Date of death | 10 December 2010 | ||
Place of death | Karachi, Pakistan | ||
Position(s) | Right-winger | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1953–1962 | Pakistan Mughal FC | ||
1950s | Punjab | ||
1959–1970 | Dhaka Wanderers | ||
1962 | Victoria SC | ||
1970s | Pakistan Airlines | ||
International career | |||
1954–1960s | Pakistan | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Early life
editRabbani was born in Delhi in British India.[1] He moved to Karachi in the newly formed Pakistan following the partition.[1]
Club career
editRabbani represented Pakistan Mughal Football Club from 1953 to 1962, and won the National Football Championship with Punjab four times.[1][5] In the late 1950s, Rabbani played for Dhaka Wanderers Club.
After a spell of more than a decade with the club, Rabbani played for Pakistan Airlines before his eventual retirement.[1] During his time in Dhaka, Rabbani represented Victoria SC as a guest player at the 1962 Aga Khan Gold Cup.[6]
International career
editRabbani was first selected for the Pakistan national team at the 1954 Colombo Cup in Calcutta, but was unable to feature in any of the matches because of the quality of the squad. After a long gap, his performances playing for the Dhaka Wanderers Club enabled his comeback in the national team for the 1958 Asian Games.[1] He featured in the 1960 and 1962 Merdeka Tournament. In the later edition under the leadership of Muhammad Umer, he played a key role in Pakistan finishing as runner-ups of the tournament.[1] He captained the national team in 1961, during Burma national team tour to East Pakistan with matches played in Dhaka and Chittagong.[7][8]
Post–playing career
editFollowing his retirement, Rabbani served the Pakistan Football Federation Selection Committee as a member.[1] He is one of the key figures responsible to launch the Pakistan Airlines football team in the late 1960s, which eventually became the most successful team in the National Football Championship.[1][5]
Playing style
editA right winger, Rabbani was praised for his speed and dribbling skills, and was often regarded as one of the fastest runners in Pakistani football. He was also praised for his ability to create space, bring the ball into the danger zone and send pin-point crosses.[1]
Death
editRabbani died on Friday of 10 December 2010.[1]
Honours
editPunjab
Dhaka Wanderers
- Dhaka League: 1960
Victoria SC
- Aga Khan Gold Cup: 1962
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k m.wasim (2010-12-11). "Comment: An unheralded sport loses yet another supporter". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ^ Ahsan, Ali (2010-12-23). "A history of football in Pakistan — Part I". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ^ "Remembering Moideen Kutty, the 'iron man' from Kerala who captained Pakistan football team". The Indian Express. 2023-06-20. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ^ "PFF chief's efforts for Asian Games football hailed". Brecorder. 2010-09-05. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
- ^ a b Newspaper, From the (2010-12-12). "Footballer dead". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ^ "Civil & Military Gazette (Lahore) - Sunday 21 October 1962". p. 12. Retrieved 23 May 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "PFF president praised for giving boost to football". Brecorder. 2007-09-21. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ^ "SPORTS WORLD: End to gloomy era of Pakistan football in sight". Brecorder. 2006-11-18. Retrieved 2024-08-04.