AKM Nowsheruzzaman

AKM Nowsheruzzaman (; 5 December 1950 – 21 September 2020), better known as Nowsher, was a Bangladeshi footballer who played as a striker or left-winger. In 1971, he toured India with the Shadhin Bangla football team in order to raise international awareness about the Bangladesh Liberation War. After liberation, he was also part of the first ever Bangladesh national football team.

Personal life Born in Munshiganj Sardar, East Bengal, Nowsher's family had originally moved from Chandpur due to his father's job as a lawyer. Nowhser was the third oldest among seven brothers and two sisters. Five of his brothers were also footballers, among them Sharifuzzaman and Arifuzzaman played alongside him at Mohammedan SC, in 1976. While the other two Ashraf and Mamun played in the Dhaka for Dilkusha SC and Victoria SC respectively.

In 1967, Nowsher came to Dhaka and got admitted to Dhaka University studying zoology. Nowhser was married to Zafarin Zaman, with whom he had a daughter named Simin Noor Zaman and a son named Moinuzzaman. That season he scored a bicycle kick against his former club Victoria SC and also found the net in a famous 4–0 victory over Abahani Krira Chakra in the Dhaka Derby. The other scorers in the game were, Md Moin, Hafizuddin Ahmed and Wazed Gazi, while defender Shamsul Alam Manju made headlines for taunting Abahani team leader, Sheikh Kamal. In 1976, Nowsher again became league champion, however he broke his leg that year and lost his place in the team. In 1978, he joined Dhaka Wanderers and retired while playing for them in 1980. After returning to the newly liberated country, Nowsher played for Bangladesh XI in the first football match held in Bangladesh, coming on as a substitute as his team lost 2–0 to Presidents XI.

On 13 May 1972, Nowsher played for Dhaka XI (unofficial national team), during their 1–0 win over Mohun Bagan AC, when the Indian club came to Bangladesh as the first international team. In 1972, Nowsher went to Guwahati with the Dhaka XI to play the Bordoloi Trophy. Nowsher was the team's top-scorer, as they finished runner-up losing to East Bengal Club in the final. One of his goals during the tournament came in a 2–0 over George Telegraph.

In 1973, Sheikh Shaheb Ali called up eight players from W.A.P.D.A including Nowhser and his brother Sharifuzzaman, to the first Bangladesh national football team, which took part in Malaysia's Merdeka Tournament. After Bangladesh ended the tournament without a single win, the Bangladesh Football Federation decided to hold a friendly game with Singapore on their way back from Malaysia. On 13 August 1973, Nowsher scored the only goal against Singapore from a Monwar Hossain Nannu cross, as Bangladesh claimed their first ever win in international football. Nowsher's only other tournament with Bangladesh was the 1975 edition of the Merdeka Cup, as he was not called up to the team again after breaking his leg in 1976.

International goals Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition ref. 1. 13 August 1973 National Stadium, Singapore 1–0 1–0 Friendly

Honours

Mohammedan SC Dhaka First Division League: 1975, 1976

Awards and accolades

Dhaka University Blue Award

Individual

Dhaka First Division League top scorer: 1975

Cricket career During the football off season, Nowhser would play cricket. He joined Town Club in 1974 and was a crucial player for the Khulna-based team. As an all-rounder, he started playing cricket for Mohammedan SC the same year he won the football league with the club. The following year, they won the 1976 Independence Cup trophy with the Black & Whites. He played as an opening batsman with Raqibul Hasan in Mohammedan. Nowsher came out as an opener against Biman and batted the entire innings remaining Not out with 69 runs. He went onto play for Dhaka Wanderers, after he joined the club in 1978 and following his retirement from playing football in 1980, he kept on playing cricket with Victoria SC. In 1983, he joined Kala Bagan Krira Chakra, where he was captain for five years, before retiring from cricket in 1990. After independence, Nowsher is one of a few players to be part of both Mohammedan SC's first Dhaka First Division Football League (1976) and Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League (1978) winning teams.