Ali Nawaz Baloch

Ali Nawaz Baloch PP (; 3 July 1949 – 28 October 2022) was a Pakistani professional footballer who played as a striker. Renowned for his goal-scoring abilities and hat-tricks, he is widely considered as one of the greatest Pakistani footballers of all time.

Rising through the ranks from school football, Nawaz represented clubs from Dhaka in East Pakistan and is one of the Pakistani footballers who represented clubs in the United Arab Emirates in the 1970s. He emerged as the top-scorer of the 1975–76 UAE Football League with Emirates SC. He later represented Pakistan Airlines in his later years. Nawaz also served as a coach in the United Arab Emirates for five years. Nawaz represented the Pakistan national football team from 1967 to 1974, captaining the team in the last year.

In recognition of his contributions to the sport, Nawaz was honored with the Pride of Performance Award by the Government of Pakistan in 1995.

Early life Nawaz was born in Lyari on 3 July 1949.

Club career

Early career Nawaz started playing football since young. The school he attended, the Jamia Islamia Khadda Haji Sir Abdullah Haroon School, catered specially to aspiring footballers. In August 1967, he won the Mohammad Ali Bogra Tournament with the team after defeating Dhaka Mohammedan in the final.

Pakistan Airlines In 1967, he became affiliated with the Pakistan Airlines departmental team. Two years later, in the 1969 National Championship held in Lahore, Nawaz helped the Karachi Division getting the second position.

Dhaka Mohammedan

In 1969, Nawaz was recruited to play for Dhaka Mohammedan, due to his impressive goal-scoring abilities in East Pakistan, scoring a triple hat-trick while playing for the club against a Middle-Eastern outfit. The feat earned him the name of 'Goal-making machine'.

Nawaz (right) trying to win the ball, in a match against Dilkusha SC in 1969.

In the 1969 Dacca Football League, he scored 45 goals in 19 matches, finishing as top scorer in 1969. During his stay in the Dhaka League, he also represented Dacca Division at the National Football Championship.

Return to Pakistan Airlines and UAE stint After the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, Nawaz returned to Pakistan Airlines.

During the 1970s, several local leagues were launched across the Middle East, where several Pakistani players represented club sides in these leagues and some of these players even coached the clubs’ new youth setups. Subsequently, Nawaz moved to the United Arab Emirates, where he featured for Emirates Club in the mid-1970s. In 1975, Nawaz had impressed the chairman of the club, Sheikh Khalifa Al-Awaisi with his game, and after settling all the matters, Nawaz moved to UAE with his son Javed Nawaz, the latter without the necessity of a passport, visa and any government restrictions. Nawaz played for the Abu Dhabi based club for five years. He emerged as the top-scorer of the 1975–76 UAE Football League season with 13 goals. He also played alongside national teammate Ghulam Sarwar at the club.

Nawaz played the last national championship for PIA in 1979, winning the league title five times during his stay at the club. He also played for local Karachi club Meher Sports FC during the 1970s.

International career

Nawaz represented Pakistan from 1967 to 1974.

At the 1974 RCD Cup, he was selected as vice captain behind captain Ayub Dar. During Dar's absence, he captained in the second match of the tournament against Turkey, scoring the last goal in the eventual 2–2 draw. He last played with the national team at the 1974 Asian Games held in Tehran, in which Pakistan was defeated by Iran and Burma, but won against Bahrain by 5–1 where Nawaz scored two goals. He served as a coach in the United Arab Emirates for five years. In 2001, he was member of the coaching staff during the tour of the Pakistan national team to England.

Personal life Nawaz's uncle, Dad Muhammad, was a professional footballer in the 1940s and 50s, he also represented the Pakistan national team. and younger brother Altaf Haroon were also footballers. His uncle, Amin Baloch, was a prominent footballer in the Dhaka First Division League, and served as assistant coach of the Pakistan national team at the 1993 South Asian Games.

During his stay in the United Arab Emirates, Nawaz was offered nationality of the country, which he reportedly turned down. He returned to Karachi in 1980 after coaching in the gulf. He also served as member of the Sindh Football Association, and as match commissioner of the Pakistan Premier League in his late years.

On 28 June 2013, Nawaz's nephew Saqib Baloch who was a practising boxer was killed in Lyari, allegedly by the Pakistan Rangers.

Death Nawaz died on 28 October 2022 in Karachi. He had been in hospital for the past several days after suffering a brain haemorrhage. The KMC Stadium where Nawaz played often in the 1960s and 1970s while playing for the Pakistan national team and Pakistan Airlines saw a large gathering of former players, coaches, referees and officials in his funeral prayers.

18 January 1974 Hockey Stadium, Karachi, Pakistan

1974 RCD Cup

Honours Mohammedan SC (Dhaka) Dhaka First Division League (1): 1969 EPIDC Dhaka First Division League (1): 1970 Individual

1969 − Most goals in Dhaka First Division League: 45 (with Dhaka Mohammedan)

UAE Football League top scorer: 1975–76 Pride of Performance Award: 1995