Yusuf Ahmed Karim
Contents
Birth & Death
Birthdate: February 2, 1935
Deathdate: March 18, 2009
About
Yusuf Ahmed Karim was born on 2nd February 1935 in Mumbai, India. He moved to Mombasa when he was 2 years old. He married Nargis bai, daughter of Mohamed Abdalla Khimji of Dar es Salaam in 1960. They were blessed with three children, all boys. The elder son is Aarif, second born is Aasif and the youngest son is Altaf. He owned a sports shop, known as Karims Stationery and Sports House in Mombasa, Kenya.Sadly, on 18th March 2009, at the age of 74, Yusuf Karim passed away.
A Great Sportsman
He was a well known and a great sportsman in our community, his great sporting achievements has been etched in the memory forever, some of his most memorable sporting achievements to have left a mark in the sporting history of our community is briefly mentioned here below:
- CRICKET
(A) ITHNA ASHERI CLUB:
1. Captain - 7 seasons -18 centuries
(B) NATIONAL:
1. Played in 1958 against South Africa coloured team in Mombasa.
2. Played several times Asians vs Europeans in the 50's in Mombasa
3. Retired pre-maturely in 1965
- TENNIS
(A) MOMBASA RESIDENT TOURNAMENT
1. Men's singles - 25 times (1951-1997)
2. Men's Doubles-15 times
3. Mixed Doubles- 13 times
(B) COAST OPEN TENNIS CHAMPION
1. Men's singles - 15 times.
2. Men's Doubles - 11 times
3. Mixed Doubles - 5 times
(C) TANZANIA OPEN CHAMPION
1. 1964 – Triple Crown Winner - singles/men's doubles & mixed doubles)
2. Instrumental in Jaffery Sports club winning the inter-club championship of Kenya in 1972.
3. Played for Kenya - All Africa games in 1974.
4. Bronze medal in mixed doubles.
5. Retired in 1977.
- VOLLEYBALL
(A) Centre player for Jaffery Club for several years.
(B) COMMUNITY AWARDS
1. 1965 - Abul Fazal Trophy – Africa Federation.
2. 2008 - Abbasi Medal - Africa Federation.
(C) COUNTRY AWARDS
1. 1969 - Dunlop Vase for Tennis player of the Year.
Sports run in the family of Marhum Yusuf Karim
Yusuf bhai's 2nd son, Aasif Karim, a legend in cricket was born on 15th December 1963 in Mombasa, Kenya. Starting from a young age, he participated in many local and international tournaments/matches in Tennis and Cricket. In cricket he excelled to his peak. Aasif was awarded Abul Fazal Trophy in 1994 by Africa Federation for his great achievements in sports.
Aasif who resides in Nairobi, Kenya represented Kenya in cricket for 23 years, playing in four ICC Trophy tournaments, for the world cricket body's associate members, and three World Cups, including his famous performance against world champions Australia in the 2003 tournament in South Africa where he led Kenya to the semi-finals.
Aasif like his father played tennis at a high level. He was Kenya's junior tennis champion and later on senior champion at the Coast for a decade. He played for Kenya in the Davis Cup in 1988.
Aasif is married to Nazneen, daughter of Alhaj Sherali Ladha Kassam of Uganda. Aasif and Nazneen are blessed with 4 children, they are; Fatema, Irfan, Zainab and Imran.
Irfan 21 years of age, like his father, is a good cricketer and a reliable batsman. He scored his maiden ODI 100 against Canada in the recent World Cup 2015 Qualifiers in Dubai.
- Let us remember him and all the past sportsmen and the sports officials of our community with Sura-e-Fateha.
