Jamil Akhtar


Jamil Akhtar was a Pakistani footballer who played as an inside left forward. Considered as one of the earliest pioneering footballers in Pakistan history, he was the fifth captain in the history of the Pakistan national football team after Osman Jan, Abdul Wahid Durrani, Muhammad Sharif and Moideen Kutty. Akhtar also played for East Bengal in India.

Club career

Akhtar was member of Lahore club Rangers FC throughout his career. He represented Punjab University football team from 1948 to 1951. In 1950, he played for Rangers FC at the Rovers Cup in 1951 in Bombay. He won the Lahore District Soccer Championship with the club in June 1951.
He also represented Punjab in the National Football Championship from 1950 to 1953, captaining the team in the last year. He later played for Pakistan Railways at the National Football Championship.
In 1954, he played in India for the Calcutta Football League club East Bengal. In 1958, Akhtar played for Lahore club Zamindars FC.

International career

Akhtar first represented Pakistan in the 1952 Asian Quadrangular Football Tournament in Ceylon, making his debut against India. He also played for Pakistan at the 1953 Asian Quadrangular Football Tournament.
He also represented Pakistan at the 1954 Asian Games in the Philippines. In a preparation match, he scored against a Singapore combined Colony XI in a 4–1 victory on 24 April 1954. He scored a brace in a 6–2 win against Singapore in a group match, where Masood Fakhri had notably scored a hat-trick, and Moideen Kutty also scored a goal.
Akhtar subsequently became the fifth captain in the history of the Pakistan national football team at the 1954 Asian Quadrangular Football Tournament, scoring a goal against Ceylon in a 2–1 victory.
He also scored in a 4–2 victory against Burma at the next 1955 Asian Quadrangular Football Tournament. At the exhibition matches at the beginning of the tournament, he scored a hat trick against an East Pakistan XI on 14 December in a 3–1 victory.

Coaching career

After retirement as player, Akhtar served as coach of the Pakistan Western Railway football team.

Career statistics

International goals

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
125 April 1954Jalan Besar Stadium, Kallang, Singapore2–2Friendly
22 May 1954Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila, Philippines1–16–21954 Asian Games
32 May 1954Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila, Philippines2–16–21954 Asian Games
421 December 1954Calcutta FC Ground, Kolkata, Indiaunpe|Ceylon|1951|avar=fb

Honours

Pakistan
  • Asian Quadrangular Football Tournament:
  • * Winners : 1952