Qayyum Changezi

Abdul Qayyum Ali Khan Changezi (Urdu: ; 25 December 1935 – 25 June 2005), commonly known as Qayyum Changezi, was a Pakistani footballer. A versatile player, Changezi played in multiple positions, including forward in the centre or as an inside left, and as full back. A former captain and key player of the Pakistan national team in the nation's early years, Changezi is widely considered as one of the greatest Pakistani footballers of all time.

Early life Belonging to the ethnic Hazara community, Changezi was born in Quetta in the Baluchistan Agency of British India on 25 December 1935. His father Haji Nasir Ali Khan was member of the All-India Muslim League and served as soldier in the 106th Hazara Pioneers infantry of the British Indian Army and later for Pakistan during the Indo-Pakistani war of 1947–1948. He also played as guest player to tour in club tournaments in Iran and India with Karachi Kickers and Karachi Mohammedan, and in 1956 again with Karachi Kickers and Hazara Club Quetta. He was praised for his performance, and reportedly carried out of the Mananchira ground in Kozhikode by local fans on his shoulders after the final.

In 1953, Changezi was first selected by the Balochistan regional selection team in the National Football Championship, and was a member of the Balochistan team that won the title in 1956 by defeating Pakistan Western Railway in Karachi on 11 November 1956, where he scored one goal in the final 2–1 victory, and was declared player of the year. However, Nonetheless, he still participated with the team in the tournament.

When the National Football Championship structure in Pakistan transitioned from provincial to divisional based clubs in 1961, he subsequently represented Quetta Division and Faisalabad Division.

A few months later during a 1963 global tour, Germany's Bundesliga club Fortuna Düsseldorf faced aircraft issues, leading to an unexpected stay in Pakistan. The German side reportedly offered a playing contract to Changezi in his last playing years, which the latter ultiumately declined.

International career

Early years (1955–1958)

Changezi made his international debut with the Pakistan national team during the 1955 Asian Quadrangular Football Tournament. In 1956, he toured Ceylon, Singapore and China with the national team. During this time, he transitioned from his position as forward to fullback, following an injury of the team regular defender Abdul Haq. In 1958, Changezi was omitted from the squad for the 1958 Asian Games due to misbehaviour.

Captaincy (1959–1960) Changezi leading the Pakistan national team during a tour to Burma in 1959. The next year, he was included in the squad for a tour to Burma. In late 1959, Changezi captained the team in the 1960 Asian Cup qualifiers hosted in Kerala, India, where Pakistan faced Iran, India and Israel twice each in the qualifiers. Although Israel managed to qualify by topping the group, Pakistan achieved a memorable victory over Iran by 4–1 and secured a draw against Israel, finishing in third place in the group, ahead of hosts India but behind Iran. left Changezi also captained during the 1960 Merdeka Tournament hosted in Malaya. Under his captaincy, Pakistan recorded some famous victories including a 7–0 walloping of Thailand, and a 3–1 win over then Asian powerhouses Japan. At the end of the tournament, on 15 August 1960, he played as starter for the Eastern/Western Zones Combined football team against Central Zone Combined, in a trial match for the proposed Asian All-Stars tour of Europe, which ultimately never materialised. Other Pakistan players selected for the combined team included Abid Hussain Ghazi, Hussain Killer, Ghulam Rabbani, and Moosa Ghazi. Under his captainship, Pakistan also played friendly matches shortly after the tournament against South Vietnam, Singapore, and once again a match against Indonesia.

Managerial career In 1977, Qayyum was appointed as manager of a national selection named Shaheen under the captainship of Ghulam Sarwar Sr. which toured in the Afghanistan Republic Day Festival Cup in Kabul.

Personal life and death

Qayyum was married on April 16, 1961.

His younger cousin Younus Changezi also played for the Pakistan national team from the 1960s till early 1970s, and was later appointed as manager of the national team in the 1980s. In 2003, Qayyum Changezi replaced M.N. Jehan as chairman of the selection committee of the Pakistan Football Federation by Arshad Khan Lodhi, following the newly elected president Faisal Saleh Hayat.

Changezi died on 25 June 2005 in Lahore, due to a heart attack. His dead body was transported to his native city Quetta for burial.

Legacy In 2014, the Qayyum Papa Stadium in Mari Abad in Quetta was inaugurated after his name.

Career statistics

International goals Scores and results list Pakistan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Changezi goal.

Honours

Balochistan

National Football Championship: Winners (2): 1956, 1959

Pakistan Western Railway

National Football Championship Runner-up: 1963, 1965

Dhaka Mohammedan Dhaka First Division League: Winners (1): 1963

Individual

1963 − Dhaka First Division League top scorer: 27 goals