A.M. Khan
Pakistan hockey legend, former national captain, Olympian and 1984 Los Angeles hero, Manzoor Hussain Junior passed away on 29TH August 2022.
The former hockey icon suffered a heart attack and was taken to a private hospital, where he breathed his last after doctors put three stents to save his life, said his son Faisal Manzoor. The 65-year-old former stalwart of Pakistan hockey, is survived by a widow, three sons and a daughter.
Down to earth, humble and soft spoken, Manzoor Junior was a master of the game and he served hockey with pride and distinction in different roles. He was serving as Chairman, National Selection Committee. His skills and expertise earned him the title of ‘Golden Player’ during his playing days.
Under the leadership of Manzoor Hussain, Pakistan won the only Junior World Cup title in 1979. He played as an outstanding forward and as a world known striker between 1975 and 1984 and was capped 175 times with 86 goals to his credit. He was part of the Pakistan team that won the Bronze Medal in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.
Eight years later, he was Captain of Pakistan team that won the Gold Medal at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Manzoor Junior was also a member of the Pakistan team that won the World Cup in 1978 and 1982. He was known for his exceptional stick work, and one of its remarkable displays was in the 1982 World Cup final, where he scored the goal by dodging six German defenders.
The hockey world still recognizes him as the hero of the 1982 World Cup final. In recognition of his meritorious services for the cause of game, he was also awarded the Presidential Medal. Manzoor Hussain and his two brothers, Maqsood Hussain and Mahmood Hussain, represented Pakistan in the 1984 Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy in Karachi in a match.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed his heartfelt sorrow on the death of the hockey legend and expressed his grief with Manzoor’s family with the prayers that may his soul rest in peace and may Allah Almighty grant courage and patience to his family to bear this irreparable loss.
On sudden death of Manzoor Hussain, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) President Brig (retd) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar and Secretary General Haider Hussain also expressed deep sorrow and said that legendary Manzoor Junior was one of the pillars of Pakistan hockey and the void created due to his death will not be filled.
The PHF officials as well as former and current hockey players and Olympians, Punjab Sports Minister Malik Taimoor Masood, SBP Director General Muhammad Tariq Qureshi, POA President Lt Gen (retd) Syed Arif Hasan, Secretary General Muhammad Khalid Mehmood, sports and hockey organizers and officials and the entire sports fraternity also showered praises on the services rendered by late Manzoor Hussain Junior and said this hockey legend will always be remembered in the country’s hockey books for his excellence and services in the field of hockey.
They expressed their heartfelt condolences over the demise of the former hockey great. “We pray to Allah Almighty to grant the departed soul high ranks in Jannah and also give courage to the bereaved family to bear this loss with fortitude,” they added.
