Lahore, 6 Feb : Pakistan Football Federation (PFF)’s President Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, Secretary General Lt.Col ® Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi, Director Marketing Sardar Naveed Haider, MTFA President Mian Rizwan Ali, NNTFA President Abdul Rasheed Khan expressed deep sense of grief and sorrow over the sad demise of former international winger Talib Ali who was also Chief Coordinator of Pakistan U20 team Camp of AFC Youth Football Championship at Tajikistan 2005.
Talib Ali played soccer from 1951 to 1971 and his golden years were from 1956 to 1958 during which he wore Pakistani national color. One his historical visit was of Japan when third Asian Games was staged by OCA then known as Asian Games Federation (AGF). Pakistan won the heart of soccer followers by drawing 1-1 with Vietnam at Tokyo on 24 May 1958.
Talib died at the age of 70 yesterday who played as right and left winger for Punjab team that won the National Championship six times in 50s. Punjab lifted the title at Dacca (1952, 1957), Peshawar (1953), Lahore (1954), Bahawalpur (1955) and Multan (1958). He led Punjab team on various occasion in addition to Pakistan Railways when he played for the organization from 1961 to 1971.
Besides Vietnam, Gujranwala-born Talib played against Singapore, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Formosa (Taiwan/Chinese Taipei), Iran, China, Korea, Russia, Nepal, Hong Kong and Malaysia.
PFF offered its condolences to Talib’s family. They prayed that Allah, the Merciful may rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant patience and solace to the members of the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss with equanimity.