HYDERABAD, India: With the Nizams now a part of folklore and, football in obscurity, the city is now left only with its biryani to boast.
There has been a series of write-ups on the possible reasons behind the football’s death in a city which had served Indian football with pride since 1950s. Even the success of Calcutta’s Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting depended a lot on famous Hyderabadi footballers from 50s to 80s.
If infighting and faction rivalry in the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh Football Association doomed the sport’s future, lack of activity has pushed the sport to the backburner.
The late Peter Thangaraj, who hailed from Bolarum, was the first of the legends with whom I had a riveting discussion on the Hyderabad’s contribution to Indian football while Tulsidas Balaram, Syed Nayeemuddin and SS Hakeem further enriched my knowledge on the twin cities.
Former India captain Victor Amalraj, whose elder brother John captained Mohammedan Sporting in 1967, was convinced that the cities lack a sports culture.
“Sports culture is very important and should be cultivated at the school level. Today, less than five per cent of the schools have a playground. Even the students have become career-oriented.
“In the mornings, they spend their time at the schools. By the time they return home, they are burdened with studies. We can only produce good footballers from small towns and villages,” said Amalraj.
Strong football culture
Hyderabad-Secunderabad once had a strong football culture in the 50s and 60s, but with the withering away of the mighty Hyderabad City Police, mentored by great visionary Syed Abdul Rahim, the sport’s development came to a standstill.
Rahim popularised football by organising non-dribbling tournaments so that teams could improve one-touch passing and combination.
One of his famous innovations was the ‘weaker leg’ competitions where a player was only allowed to kick and tackle with his weaker foot so became two-footed.
After Rahim’s death in 1963, the supply-line from Hyderabad-Secunderabad was steady as Nayeemuddin and Habib plied their trade with East Bengal in 1965.
But a lack of planning and encouragement in the 70s meant as only a handful including Amalraj (1978), Shabbir (1979) and Farid (1981) received offers from Calcutta clubs.
Ironically, Farid was the last Hyderabadi to have played in all the top three Calcutta sides.
