Mateen Akhtar


Malik Mateen Akhtar, alternatively spelled Matin Akhtar, is a Pakistani former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. A former captain, Akhtar is among the major players of the Pakistan national football team in the 1980s and 1990s.
He won the 1989 [South Asian">Football at the 1989 South Asian Games">1989 [South Asian Games|1989] and 1991 South Asian Games|1991 South Asian Games] with Pakistan captaining the national side in the former edition, and was the starting goalkeeper at the 1990 [FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC first round|1990 FIFA World Cup qualification] in the country's first participation in the tournament. He also captained the national team at the 1990 Asian Games – Men's tournament|1990 Asian Games].

Club career

In 1982, Akhtar featured in the National U-19 [Football Championship (Pakistan)|National Youth Football Championship]. He was also borrowed by Wohaib FC to take part in the qualifying round of the 1992–93 Asian Club Championship, where the team earned victories over Club Valencia from Maldives and Brothers Union from Bangladesh to qualify for Group B, becoming the first Pakistani club to pass the qualifying round of an Asian competition. However after the qualification, Akhtar returned to WAPDA after the start of the 1992–1993 National Football Championship, held from 20 October 1992 to 14 February 1993.

International career

Akhtar made his international debut at the Merdeka Tournament in 1984, where he was praised for his performance.
He was the starting goalkeeper and captain at the 1990 [FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC first round|1990 FIFA World Cup qualification] in the country's first participation in the tournament, featuring in all the four games. He subsequently captained the national team at the 1989 South Asian Games, helping the national side achieve the gold medal. The next year, he retained his captaincy in the Football at the 1990 [Asian Games – Men's tournament|1990 Asian Games]. In 1991, he won the 1991 South Asian Games as starter goalkeeper.
He featured in Pakistan's second participation at the 1994 [FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC first round|1994 FIFA World Cup qualification] in 1993, playing in all three matches where Pakistan again ended up unsuccessful.

Honours

Pakistan