KARACHI, Nov 21: Senior football enthusiast and tournament organiser Usman Baloch died in a road accident on Wednesday. He was 62.

Usman remained active in football circles for over 40 years and was the first organiser to have found sponsors for football tournaments to popularise the sport in the country. Although he hailed from Malir, he organised football tournaments in Punjab and Balochistan besides Karachi.

He was a former national referee and ex-secretary of District Football Association (DFA) Malir. The 2011 edition of Pakistan Football Association’s (PFF) Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) also saw him in the role of match commissioner.

On Wednsday evening, Usman Baloch was returning from a local tournament in Shafi Goth Malir on his scooter when he was overrun by a speeding truck. He died on the spot.

He leaves behind a widow, two sons and three daughters. One of his sons is a football referee.

Secretary Sindh Football Association Hassan Baloch, DFA Malir President Fateh Mohammad, DFA Secretary Malir Shahid Taj, DFA South President Gulab Baloch, Football Organiser Yaqoob Baloch, Sports Coordinator Ghulam Mohammad, Former SFA Secretary Qamar Yar Khan, KESC Sports Head Zaibe Khan, KESC Coach Akbar Ali, Assistant Coach Akhlaq Ahmed and football organiser Yaqoob Baloch have all condoled the sad demise of Usman Baloch while expressing their deepest sympathies with his bereaved family.

His namaz-i-janaza will be held at 1.30pm at Hanfia Masjid on Thursday.