Former PAF and Pakistan international captain, Moin-ud-Din Kutty passed away in Karachi on 7 Sept 2011 aged 83. The centre-forward was among the pioneering footballers in Pakistan’s early history, and was Pakistan football team’s fourth ever captain after Osman Jan, Abdul Wahid Durrani, and Muhammad Sharif.
FootballPakistan.Com (FPDC) staff, Sindh FA president Syed Khadim Ali Shah, vice presidet Fateh Muhammad Baloch, national coach Tariq Lutfi, sports journalist Riaz Ahmed, and officials from all five Karachi DFAs (Gulab Baloch, M Rahim, Syed Usman Shah, Zafar Iqbal, Rahim Bakhsh, Saleem Patni, M Shamim, Shahid Taj et al.) offered their condolences and prayers for the departed soul.
M.D. Kutty was born in the Indian city of Malappuram, Kerala in 1928. In 1950, M.D. Kutty was selected for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) football team and played for his service in the national football championships. M.D. Kutty was captain of PAF that played in the 1951 All-Pakistan Inter-Services Football Championship. In 1952, M.D. Kutty received his first ever international cap for Pakistan when he played in the Asian Quadrangular Football Tournament held in Colombo (Ceylon). That tournament popularly became known as the Colombo Cup in subsequent years as M.D. Kutty also played in the 1953 (Rangoon, Burma), 1954 (Calcutta, India), and 1955 (Dacca, East Pakistan) editions for Pakistan.
M.D. Kutty scored twice soon after the 2nd half began in 2 minutes in Pakistan’s memorable 6-0 victory over hosts Ceylon (Sri Lanka). M.D. Kutty was appointed as vice-captain for Pakistan in the 1954 Colombo Cup held in Calcutta, before being made captain of the team in time for the 1954 Asian Games held in Manila (Philippines).
He also took part in the 1955 Army Football Tournament held in Iran under captaincy of Lt. M.H. Siddiqui. The tournament featured army football sides from India, Iran, Turkey, Iraq, and Syria. Pakistan Army team beat India and Iran, drew with Syria and Iraq, while lost to Turkey as the finished 2nd behind the Turks over-all in the Army Tournament.
When Iran toured Pakistan back in 1956, M.D. Kutty played for a Pakistan Combined Services team against Iran. Following Iran’s 1-0 win over Pakistan at YMCA Ground in Karachi, the Combined Services team took revenge of Pakistan’s loss and beat Iran 2-1 in the next game.
M.D. Kutty belonged to an era when some of Pakistan’s greatest football pioneers graced the pitch with the likes of Muhammad Sharif, Jameel Akhtar, Nisar, Ahmed Ali Phullo, Qayyum Ali Changezi, Taj Muhammad Jr., Sunbal Khan, Nabi Chaudhary, Riasat Ali, Akbar Jan, Abdul Wahid Durrani, Ghulam Rabbani, Dad Muhammad, Afzal Khan, Masood Fakhri, Abdul Ghafoor, Musa Ghazi, Abid Ghazi, Ibrahim, Abdul Haq, Ata Muhammad et al.
May the soul of Moinud Din Kutty rest in peace. Amen.
DISCLAIMER: M.D. Kutty was born in Malappuram, Kerala rather than Madras (Chennai) as corrected by his son Mr Muhammad Sohail Kutty. Error is regretted by FPDC Staff. (Dated and Updated on 12 July 2016).