Tuesday, May 23, 2017

A date with Mohammad Farid

At my sister-in-laws marriage in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, almost a decade ago one of the guests asked, “You’re from Calcutta, so you would know Mohammad Farid. He’s my first cousin and was a footballer.”

When I told him that Farid, 58, was one of the most popular footballers in the 1980s and early 90s, he was surprised and acknowledged the family didn’t quite follow his brother’s football career as there wasn’t much interest. 

"We really didn't know about his achievements and, that he also played for India," he added. 
Not just him, in fact, most from outside Calcutta wouldn’t know or forgotten this unassuming former attacking midfielder much due to the fact there’re no write-ups on him on the internet barring some old Bengali football magazines.
Farid, who debuted with Hyderabad City Police in 1974 and played till 1977 in his hometown, preferred to stay away from the limelight after bidding adieu to a glittering career with Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting and hanged up his boots with his office team Food Corporation of India (FCI) in 2000.

The purpose of this blog is to highlight his 19-year career in Calcutta and, also let the new generation know of this gutsy player who, incidentally, was the last Hyderabadi to play for all the top three Calcutta clubs. 

His fans in Bengal still remember his last-minute goal against Nepal in the 1987 SAF Games football final while some post old photographs from some of his outstanding performances on the Facebook.
“One of my friends introduced me to Facebook recently. It was a great feeling to have reconnected with the fans and old team-mates. I had never of thought of telling the world about my achievements. It wasn’t necessary because the love and admiration from fans and team-mates were sufficient. But thanks to FB, I’m flooded with a lot of friend requests from fans whom I don’t even know,” he said with a surge of pride.
Farid also represented the country at the Kings Cup (Bangkok, 1981), UAE friendlies matches (Dubai, 1981), Presidents Cup (Seoul, 1982), Asian Games (New Delhi, 1982), Nehru Cup (Calicut, 1986) and SAF Games (Calcutta, 1987).
I saw his cover photo on a popular Bengali magazine Khelar Kagoj after he joined East Bengal in 1981, but met him for the first time last year at our common relative’s place at Mehdipatnam, Hyderabad.

So, how did he land up in Calcutta?

“In 1980, I was selected for the senior national team for the 1982 Asian Games. The preparation had started two years before at the insistence of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The camp was held at Salt Lake Stadium. We were put up at Karunamayee,” said Farid, who was born on July 7, 1959. 

His coy and sober nature was always appreciated while his grit and determination were his assets on the field. 

“One day, the then East Bengal football secretary took me to a south Calcutta flat where I was offered to join them. Later, they kept me at Hotel Bliss at Ekdalia Road. They released me only after I had signed a contract. I was just 20 then.”

That’s how Farid’s journey to the City of Joy started. He was lucky to have played alongside star Hyderabadis Mohammad Habib (in EB), Victor Amalraj (EB, MS and MB) and Shabbir Ali (MS).

Farid performed with such steel and style that he remained a top catch for all the clubs in those golden years in Calcutta.

“I left East Bengal and joined Mohammedan in 1983, but switched to Bagan the next year,” he said.

In fact, Farid, whose real name is Shazore Alam Khan, had his best stint at the green and maroon club.
Those three years were the most enjoyable one in my career. I’ve had a very good experience at Bagan. I won’t ever forget Mr Dhiren Dey’s love and respect for the players. 
“He had a style statement and never spoke in Bengali. He used to address me as ‘Mr Farid’. There was no delay in payment and the club used to give me to-and-fro airfare to Hyderabad. It was a huge encouragement,” reminisced Farid, who rejoined Mohammedan in 1987 on a five-year contract.
Today, Calcutta is his home where he divides his time between his job at FCI and, in the evening gives free coaching at Salt Lake’s DL Block to poor kids from Keshtopur since 1992.

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