Yousaf Junior passes away aged 75
Pakistan’s legendary winger Yousaf Junior passed away aged 75 and was buried at Mewah Shah Graveyard in Karachi. He left behind a widow, 2 sons (national referee Pervez Yousaf and footballer Amjad Yousaf), and daughter. Football legends Master Asghar Baloch, Khumaisa Boss, Muhammad Sadiq etc all attended his funeral.
Born in the Lyari neighbourhood of Rangi Warah, Yousaf Jr began his career at Rangi Warah FC before joining Karachi’s top side Baloch XI where legends like captain Umer, Abu Jaan, Abbas Baloch, Abdul Latif etc also played. Yousaf Jr also played for KMC and Sindh Govt Press later on. He also played in former East Pakistan and joined Dhaka’s Mohammedan SC in 1957 to help them win the Dhaka League twice. He also played for Victoria SC and other sides as a guest player while in Dhaka for most of the 1960s.
Yousaf Jr was first called up to the Pakistan team in 1960 led by Qayyum Changezi when it played the Asian Cup qualifiers in Ernakulam, India. Yousaf Jr’s fast pace and ability to play on both wings earned him the nicname of ‘Scooter’. Yousaf also played in the Pre-Olympic football qualifers held in Tehran in Oct 1963 for Pakistan and also toured China, Indonesia, and Soviet Union with Pakistan in 1964.
After fall of Dhaka in 1971, Yousaf Jr returned to his native Karachi where he ended his playing career with KPT. He was known as a cheerful personality and may the departed soul rest in peace.