Since childhood, he has shown his love for football game which made him join the Assyabaab Surabaya youth team as a teenager.

He joined the team along with other Indonesian international players including Soetjipto Soentoro, Iswadi Idris and Jacob Sihasale.

[11] In total during his career with six different clubs, Abdul Kadir has recorded 166 appearances and scored 132 goals, both in the Perserikatan and Galatama competitions.

[12] He began his international career as a youth player for Indonesia when he was selected to compete in the 1965 GANEFO in Pyongyang, North Korea at the age of 16.

In August 1967, Kadir received his first call-up to the senior Indonesia national team ahead of their 1967 Merdeka Tournament participation in Kuala Lumpur.

[13] He made his century of appearances for Indonesia against India in the Merdeka Tournament in Ipoh, Malaysia on 1 August 1974 – the match ended in a goalless draw.

[4] During his time representing Indonesia, Kadir won several trophies with the team, including the 1968 King's Cup in Thailand, the 1969 Merdeka Tournament in Malaysia, and the 1972 Pesta Sukan in Singapore.

Despite the club's glory, Yanita Utama were collapsed due to a financial crisis and was bought by an Indonesian businessman and former PSSI leader, Sjarnoebi Said in 1985.

After Yanita Utama was folded, Kadir became part of the team that moved to Krama Yudha Tiga Berlian (KTB).

[20] In June 1972, Kadir had the opportunity to accompany the Brazilian player Pelé (who at that time came to Indonesia with Santos) who was invited by the national television network TVRI to be a guest star and then demonstrated their skills in controlling the ball.

[21] In his 50s, Kadir suffered from kidney failure and had to undergo hemodialysis twice a week at Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital in Salemba, Jakarta.

His fellow footballers when he was still a player and coach, including Patar Tambunan, Risdianto, Anjas Asmara, Sutan Harhara, Judo Hadianto also attended his funeral.

The President of the Republic of Indonesia at that time, Megawati Sukarnoputri and her husband Taufiq Kiemas, were also present by laying condolence wreaths at his grave.