Syed Safdar Abbas was born on 12th March 1956 in Karachi. His father Syed Mushtaq Hussain served Lasbela State before partition. He was the grandson of the Late Syed Riaz Hussain, who was a well-known hockey player of Patiala State in undivided India, and he no doubt carried hockey germs in his blood from his elders. He also got inspiration from his elder brother Ali Gohar, who used to play for Brothers Hockey Club, Karachi with great success.
He got his early schooling from Habib Public School, Karachi, from where he passed his Matriculation. Later he joined DJ Science College, Karachi and completed his Intermediate and Graduation. In 1967, he joined Brothers Hockey Club as a left-winger and participated in a number of local tournaments and acquired great proficiency in this position. As a speedy left-winger, he was soon selected for the Karachi (B) team in 1971 for the National Hockey Championship. Thereafter, he was chosen to play for the Karachi (A) team, which participated in the National Hockey Championship of 1972. After that, he was invited to the national hockey camp in Lahore to select the Pakistan team for the forthcoming World Cup. He performed extremely well in the trial matches and was unanimously selected by all the selectors.
SAFDAR ABBAS
Born on 12th March 1956
Pakistani Hockey Player
In 1973, he played in the World Cup held in Amsterdam (Netherlands). He was not considered for the earlier matches but was given a chance in the last pool match against Argentina, where he scored the first goal of his career. He also became the youngest ever International hockey player in the world at the age of 16 years, while he was studying in class IX.
In 1974, he represented Pakistan in the 7-Nation Tournament held at Christchurch (New Zealand). Originally, eight teams were scheduled to take part, but India’s last-minute withdrawal forced the organizers to stage the tournament on a single-league basis. Pakistan won all her six matches to finish at the top and won the Gold Medal. This was also the first Gold of his International hockey career. Later he was ignored for the Asian Games which were held in Tehran (Iran).
In 1975, after playing against the Australians during the home series, he was again included in the Pakistan team for the World Cup, which was held in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). Pakistan looks favourites to win, but injuries to Rasheed Junior, Shahnaz Sheikh and Zahid Sheikh weakened their forward line. Add further to her miseries when their key forward Samiullah Khan, the match winner with his deceptive pace and dazzling stick work, fell heavily on his left shoulder which resulted in a fractured collar bone and Pakistan, consequently, lost by 2-1 in the final and secured the Silver Medal. At the end of the year, the West German national hockey team visited Pakistan to play a test series. He was also part of the Pakistan team and played during the test matches.
In 1976, Quaid-e-Azam Centenary Tournament was organized in Lahore to mark the hundredth birth anniversary of the Founder of the Nation. Nine countries including Pakistan Colours, Pakistan Whites, Egypt, Japan, Malaysia, Poland, India, West Germany and the Netherlands took part in it. He was included in the Pakistan Whites team, which remained in the seventh position.
In 1977, he was part of the Pakistan team during the Junior World Cup Qualifying Tournament held in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). Pakistan won the Cup after beating Malaysia by a 2-0 margin and secured the Gold Medal. After that, he was overlooked by the selectors and did not play any matches during 1978.
In 1979, he was again included in the Pakistan team that participated in the Essanda Hockey Tournament held in Perth (Australia). He won the Gold Medal when Pakistan beat Australia by a 4-2 margin. Later, he proceeded to the Netherlands to play a bilateral series, which ended in a 3-3 draw.
In 1980, he took part in the Champions Trophy held in Karachi, where he got the Gold Medal. After that, he appeared in the 4-Nation Quadrangular Tournament held in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), where he again secured the Gold Medal after beating Australia by 2-0 in the final. Coming back home, Pakistan also played a friendly rubber against Malaysia and Singapore. They won all six matches against both countries. Later he went on a tour to Zimbabwe and Kenya with the Pakistan team.
In 1981, he undertook a tour of Europe with the Pakistan team and participated in three tournaments. The four-Nation hockey tournament is played in two parts at Frankfurt (Germany) and Amsterdam (Netherlands) and the Three-Nation tournament is at Poznan (Poland). Pakistan got the third position in Germany, second in the Netherlands and first in Poland.
Thereafter, he was ignored by the selectors who did not consider him for further International tournaments but however, but he continued to serve his department in the National Hockey Championships. In 1984, he was made Captain of his department, Habib Bank Limited. Overall in his International Hockey career, he secured five Gold Medals and One Silver Medal from 1973 until 1981.
On 13th December 1987, a benefit match was also arranged for him.
His nephew Syed Sohail Abbas was also an Olympian and played International Hockey for Pakistan.
