Hafiz Rashid, also known as Rashid Sr., was a footballer who played as a striker, and manager. He is regarded as one of the most prominent players of Kolkata Mohammedan during the 1930s and 1940s. After the partition of India in 1947, Rashid settled in Pakistan where he was awarded Pride of Performance in 1962. He also served as head coach of the Pakistan national youth team the same year.
Rashid hailed from Nasirabad, Ajmer in Rajasthan.
In 1933, Rashid played with the football team of B.B & C.I. Railway as a left winger during a visit to Calcutta for two exhibition matches, against Kolkata Mohammedan on 4 April, and Mohun Bagan on 8 April. Subsequently, Rashid along with fellow Nasirabad based goalkeeper Kalu Khan, and Rawalpindi based forward Mohammad Yasin were scouted and recruited by Kolkata Mohammedan. Rashid switched his position as centre forward and then a crucial role for the promotion of Kolkata Mohammedan from the second division to first division in 1933, scoring 53 goals.
Rashid would also finish as the top goal-scorer of the Calcutta Football League for three consecutive seasons between 1934 and 1936. He scored nine goals during the 1934 campaign, followed by 15 goals in 1935, and 13 goals in 1936.
On 17 June 1936, during a match against the English Military Attached section team at the Mohun Bagan Ground, he fractured his right leg, however continued playing for the club until 1947. In 1940, he helped the team win the historic 1940 Durand Cup final over Royal Warwickshire Regiment, contributing to Kolkata Mohammedan becoming the first ever Indian club to win the final of the Durand Cup. He also featured at the IFA Shield.
In 1954, he represented Ispahani Club in the Dhaka First Division Football League.
In 1933, he represented India XI against European XI.
In 1962, he served as head coach of the Pakistan national youth team for the 1962 AFC Youth Championship. He was member of the Pakistan Sports Control Board as chief coach.
In 1951, he was appointed coach of East Pakistan Gymkhana of Dhaka. He also had a coaching stint at Dhaka Mohammedan alongside Mohammad Shahjahan and Abbaz Mirza in the mid-1950s, helping the club win its inaugural First Division league title in 1957.
In 1968, he supervised the Dacca University football team alongside Mohammed Rahmatullah, for their participation in the Independence Day Football Tournament.
After the partition of India in 1947, Rashid settled in Dhaka, East Pakistan. He was awarded Pride of Performance in 1962.
He later spent the last years of his life in Karachi.
Mohammedan Sporting
Individual