Abdullah Rahi

Abdullah Rahi (born 1938), is a Pakistani former footballer who played as an inside right forward. Abdullah represented the Pakistan national football team in the 1960s, and was member of the national squad which finished finalists at the 1962 Merdeka Tournament.

Abdullah Rahi

Abdullah in 1959
Personal information
Date of birth	1938 (age 86–87)
Place of birth	Makran, British India
Position(s)	Forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1960–1961	Dhaka Mohammedan
1962–1963	Victoria SC
1963	Dhaka Wanderers
1964–1970	Dhaka Mohammedan
1971–??	Karachi Port Trust
International career
1959–1967	Pakistan
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Early life

Abdullah was born in Makran, British India.^[1]

Club career

Abdullah started his playing career in 1954 for several Karachi based clubs such as Baghdad Sports, Sindh Government Press, and Keamari Mohammedan in the regional Karachi First Division Football League. In 1958, he embarked in a tour to Saudi Arabia with Karachi Kickers.^[1][2][3][4]

Abdullah second sitting from right to left with the 1969 unbeaten league champions Dhaka Mohammedan

Abdullah later represented several clubs in East Pakistan at the Dhaka First Division League starting in 1960 when he moved to Dhaka Mohammedan.^[1][5][6] He also represented East Pakistan and Dacca Division in the National Football Championship in West Pakistan.^[1]

He represented Victoria SC in 1962–1963.^[1] He scored one of the goals at the 1962 Aga Khan Gold Cup final 5–1 victory against Young Taegeuk FA.^[7] The next year, he represented Dhaka Wanderers as a guest player and helped the side finish runner-up at the Aga Khan Gold Cup.^[8]

Upon his return to Dhaka Mohammedan, he captained the side in 1967.^[1] In 1969, Abdullah helped Dhaka Mohammedan win the league title as unbeaten champions. His attacking partnership with Golam Sarwar Tipu, Pratap Shankar Hazra, and fellow Pakistan national team forward Ali Nawaz Baloch being integral to their success that season.^[9] After the Fall of Dhaka, Abdullah represented Karachi Port Trust.

International career

Abdullah sitting far left with the Pakistan national team in 1964

In 1959, Abdullah was first selected of the Pakistan national football team for a tour to Burma.^[1] The same year he participated at the 1960 AFC Asian Cup qualification in Ernakulam, India.^[1][10] Abdullah recorded the winner goal at the 13th minute in Pakistan's first official victory over India, during the 1960 AFC Asian Cup qualification.^[11][12][13]

In 1960, Abdullah managed to score in a record 7–0 victory over Thailand at the 1960 Merdeka Tournament.^[14] The next year he played against Burma in a home test series.^[1]

Abdullah was member of the national squad which finished runner-ups at the 1962 Merdeka Tournament after falling in the final against Indonesia by 1–2.^[15] The next year he played against China during friendly series in home venue, and against Iran at the 1964 Summer Olympics qualification.^[1] In 1964, he was part of the national squad which toured China, and in 1965 he toured Ceylon, and later Iran during the 1965 RCD Cup.^[1]

Personal life

During his time in East Pakistan, Abdullah was married a woman of Bihari descent.^[16][1]

Career statistics

International goals

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

List of international goals scored by Abdullah Rahi

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition	Ref.
1	13 December 1959	Maharaja College Stadium, Kochi, India	India	1–0	1–0	1960 AFC Asian Cup qualification	[11][12]
2	5 August 1960	Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur, Malaya	Thailand		7–0	1960 Merdeka Tournament	[14]

Honours

Pakistan

• Merdeka Tournament runner-up: 1962

Victoria SC

• Aga Khan Gold Cup : 1962
• Dhaka First Division League (1): 1962,^[17]
• Independence Day Football Tournament (1): 1962,

Dhaka Mohammedan

• Dhaka First Division League: 1961, 1969
• Aga Khan Gold Cup : 1961
• Independence Day Football Tournament (2): 1960, 1961

Dhaka Wanderers

• Dhaka First Division League: runners-up (1): 1963
• Independence Day Tournament (1): 1963
• Aga Khan Gold Cup (1): 1963