Death anniversary of hockey legend ’‘’Mansoor Ahmed (BHAAI)observed

Death anniversary of hockey legend ’Mansoor Ahmed observed
By: Asghar Ali Mubarak ids=”14186,14187,14188,14189,14190,14191,14192,14193″ type=”rectangular”]
The second death anniversary of hockey legend World’s best goalkeeper, Pride of Performance, ‘hero of Pakistan hockey ‘’Mansoor Ahmed was observed on other day. He was called BHAAI by his family member and closed friends. Mansoor Ahmed was born on 7th January 1968 and died on 12nd May 2018; he was a Pakistani field hockey player. He represented Pakistan national hockey team in 338 matches between 1986-2000. Mansoor Ahmed played as a Goalkeeper and Captain for the Pakistan national hockey team. He played 338 International matches and did participate in three Olympic Games, while winning bronze medal in the 1992 Olympic Games. Mansoor Ahmed played three consecutive World Cups and won 1994 World Cup Hockey Championship (World Cup). Also hold Silver medal in 1990 world Cup Hockey Championship. He played ten Champions Trophies and gold medal in 1994. He played three Asian Games and won gold in 1990 Beijing, China. In his career, he earned 12 gold, 12 silver and 8 bronze medals in international hockey tournaments. He was declared All Asian Stars Hockey Team member in 1996 and also declared World Eleven Hockey team member in 1994. His glories made him rise above the sky by becoming the World’s best goalkeeper and declared by F.I.H in 1994. Ahmed stood four times as the best goalkeeper of the tournament in his lifetime career. He was also the flag carrier of the Pakistani Contingent in 1996 Atlanta Olympics in Atlanta; US. In his outstanding performance in the field of hockey Government of Pakistan awarded him the President Award in 1988. He was also awarded Pride of Performance in 1994. Mansoor Ahmed was involved in hockey as a coach. He was the National hockey coach of Pakistan junior hockey team in 2000 and was appointed as specialist goal keeper coach of Bangladesh national hockey team in 2014. He also appointed director of Pakistan hockey federation hockey Academies in 2010. He is holding the degree of High Performance Coaching Diploma ,Besides a player, Ahmed was a social activist and worked as an ambassador with different organizations like “Right to Play” and “Athlete Ambassador”. He was also announced as ambassador for No Smoking Campaign by Government of Pakistan. He has the honor to be announced as speaker for FIFA World Cup 2022, Qatar. He was also invited as a guest for Special Olympics, Los Angeles, US in 2015. On 22 April 2018, Ahmed revealed that he needed a heart transplant and was seeking a medical visa from the Government of India. He was under treatment at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases in Karachi.
Mansoor Ahmed died on 12 May 2018, in Karachi, Pakistan. In the last three years of his life, he had been suffering from a heart ailment.[1] A few weeks before his death, Ahmed had complications originating from a pacemaker and stents implanted in his heart. On 13 May 2018, he was laid to rest in Karachi.
Mansoor had done a lot for Pakistan and the way he left us was not how a hero should have. The hero goalkeeper, 50, passed away in Karachi on 13rd May 2018 after suffering for weeks from complications stemming from a pacemaker and stents implanted in his heart and was not able to get proper treatment from abroad as he was not fit to travel.
Mansoor was a Pakistani sporting icon after he helped the country win their last World Cup title in 1994 with his stunning saves against the Netherlands in the final. Pakistan won the final 4-3 on a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw. Mansoor had played 338 international matches for Pakistan and also featured in three Olympics and various other high-profile events in a career spanning from 1986 to 2000.The semi-final and final were very close games and were decided on penalty strokes. Pakistan wons the semi-final (5-3) and final (4-3), which means it was Mansoor who gave us the memorable victories,”in 1994 World Cup. Mansoor’s last penalty saves against (Dutchman) Jeroen Delmee in the final was something we cannot forget. Mansoor served Pakistan with full energy and his services for the country would be remembered forever.
Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) on May 17, 2018 approved plans of a new hockey stadium in Islamabad named after national hero and Olympian Mansoor Ahmed. The executive committee also approved Rs1 million aids for the wife of Mansoor Ahmed.
The recommendation was forwarded by Pakistan Hockey Federation former secretary Shahbaz Ahemd Senior, where he suggested that the stadium should be built in the PSB Sports Complex, to which the executive committee said’’ yes’’. The new stadium will be located adjacent to Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium and will honors the late Olympian who died in Karachi after suffering from a heart ailment. This is a great step by the PSB and also the secretary PHF who presented this suggestion. The Celebrated Olympian goal-keeper and 1994 Sydney Hockey World Cup hero Mansoor Ahmed, who was suffering from heart ailment for quite some time, left for his eternal abode following heart failure at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) on Saturday afternoon. He was 50.
The deceased is survived by his mother, two brothers Sohail (US), Masroor (Canada) and a married sister. His father, who worked in the PAF, had died long ago. He spent his childhood at the PAF Base Mauripur.
Mansoor’s mother, who arrived from abroad after listening about his son’s deteriorating health, was in the city at the time of his death while his other brothers had recently gone back.
Mansoor, who played 338 international matches during his illustrious career spread over 12 years — 1985-1997 — was in the news for the last many months due to his illnesss as his condition deteriorated with every passing day.
Doctors implanted seven stents and a pacemaker in his heart sometime back to keep it functioning. The former goal-keeper wanted to undergo heart transplantation in Mumbai and had appealed to the prime minister from hospital bed but unfortunately his wish remained unfulfilled.
Mansoor was a product of Karachi YMCA which had the distinction of giving four top class goal-keepers to Pakistan hockey – the other three being Shahid Ali Khan, Ahmed Alam and Ejaz Khokhar besides others.
All the four keepers were the pupil of the honorary hockey coach Shabih Abbas, whose devotion was the hall mark and bore fruitful results. This correspondent is an eye witness to all his major achievements for Pakistan, especially in early and mid-nineties. The 1994 Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy was the 16th edition of the Hockey Champions Trophy men’s field hockey tournament. It took place from March 17–25, 1994 in the National Hockey Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan. Some Pakistani journalist included this correspondent stayed at same hotel at liberty Lahore and become much closed friend; even all arrangement of the marriage ceremony of legendry player was arranged by this correspondent including the shopping. On the suggestion of Mansoor a country wide tour was arranged with 1994 World Cup trophy by the sponsorship of PC hotel Bhurban.

Mansoor, who was Superintendent in Customs Preventive, came to fore when he donned Pakistan junior colour in the Vancouver Junior World Cup in 1985. Earlier, he toured China with the Pakistan youth hockey team in 1983.
He had featured in three Olympics – Seoul in 1988, Barcelona Olympica in 1996 and Atlanta Olympics in 1996, three World Cups — 1986 in London, 1990 at Lahore and 1994 at Sydney, two Junior World Cups – Vancouver in 1985, Ipoh in 1989, besides many Champions Trophies, Asia Cup Junior Asia Cup, Indira Gandhi Gold Cups, Azlan Shah hockey tournaments among others.He was known for his bravery and skills under the bar and brought off many spectacular saves the best being a penalty stroke in the Sydney World Cup final against Holland.
He was declared best goal-keeper of the 1994 World Cup by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and was selected in the FIH World XI after the feat. In 2018 the PHF nominated him as manager of the Pakistan junior hockey team for Muscat tour. Despite all these heroics, his private life was marred by repeated shocks. The first shock he received after turning into a mega hero was when players staged a revolt against his captaincy as the team was about to leave for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.Then came the most critical phase of his life when he retired from international hockey and started concentrating on his employment with Pakistan Customs. He was promoted to a position of superintendent and was appointed in-charge of a warehouse in Karachi. Since he had spent all his life serving Pakistan hockey, Mansoor probably was too naive for a tricky Customs job. Those who knew the tricks and trades of minting money from these positions threw Mansoor in total dilemma. Over 1200kg of silver went missing from a warehouse in Karachi. Mansoor was blamed for the negligence — though time and again he clarified his position but to no avail.A criminal case was registered against him. He was arrested and sentenced. For over 12 years he fought his case and was acquitted from all charges. By that time his family life and credibility as an honest citizen was tarnished to a level of a no return. His divorce turned out to be the telling blow to his physical and mental health. He never recovered from the repeated shocks as his health started turning from bad to worse. He had to undergo cardiac surgery which ultimately took his life.