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The lost glory of football
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Football is in the doldrums in the State. If the sport has to be revived, then the administrators have to forget their differences and unite to work for the good of the sport, writes ABHIJIT SEN GUPTA.
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Young footballers in AP face a bleak future. — Photo K. Ramesh Babu
FOOTBALL IN Andhra Pradesh has hit rock bottom and it is not hard to find the reasons for this ruination. The game, which once flourished in this region, has been badly affected by politics, groupism, ego clashes and sheer lack of administrative will power and efficiency.
Last year there was a glimmer of hope when AP won the south zone under-21 tournament. But this year the hopes were dashed when the State team fared disastrously in the same tournament and finished last among the five teams in the fray. In all, AP played four matches, lost all four, conceded 14 goals and scored only one.
Former international Victor Amalraj, who had been the coach of the under-21 team last year, was very disappointed. He was not available to function as the coach this year due to prior commitments in Chennai. But he felt that this time the coaching was not done systematically. An accomplished player who had played for all the three famous Kolkata clubs, namely East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting and represented India on several occasions during an illustrious career spanning 18 years, Amalraj is deeply committed to AP football.
He has several suggestions, which he feels may improve the situation. Amalraj has coached the Tamil Nadu senior State team with distinction and says that besides himself, there are other former players from Hyderabad such as Md. Habeeb, Naeem and Shabbir Ali who are now coaching elsewhere but whose services should be utilised by their home state of AP. Another move that would help a great deal would be to form panels of coaches and referees to supervise these aspects of the game. The standard of refereeing has to be improved considerably, he feels.
Amalraj is of the opinion that the quota system in selection of the State teams should be scrapped immediately and prize money tournaments should be introduced to bring in a greater element of competitiveness. Above all, the old ideas have to be changed and new ideas must be brought in and the administrators have to unite for the good of AP football.
Another deplorable aspect is the lack of activity and competitions. The prestigious Nizam Gold Cup tournament that used to be the main attraction of Hyderabad's football calendar is now defunct. Football fans have to console themselves by recalling the great matches and memorable moments provided by the national teams, which used to take part in this tournament such as Dempo, Vasco, Mohammedan Sporting, JCT, BSF and others.
Leave alone the big tournaments; even the local Rahim league tournament has been hit by uncertain programming. With the State body stuck in a quagmire, it is now left to football loving individuals and organisations to promote this game in the twin cities. Last year the Dr.B.R Ambedkar trophy tournament was organised and this year too there are plans to conduct this tournament in a befitting manner. Football lovers in Secunderabad have made efforts to revive the game there.
Recently, the Moin memorial tournament was conducted by former international Lateefuddin and his brothers Syed Fareeduddin Shaukat, Azizuddin and Sharfuddin in memory of their father Moinuddin (known to fans as Moin) who was one of the legendary figures of Hyderabad and Indian football. Moin played in two Olympics - in 1948 and in 1952 - as India's centre forward. Nicknamed "Lion-Hearted Moin" by the media in those days, he had the reputation of being able to break any defence in the country during his playing career of 26 years for Hyderabad City Police. He narrowly missed selection in the 1956 squad (which finished fourth in the Melbourne Olympics) as he was considered slightly overage.
It was encouraging to note that 16 teams took part in the Moin memorial tournament, which was won by South Central Railway. Incidentally, Lateef himself also had a brilliant career in the game, beginning with Hyderabad City Police in 1967. Later he went on to play for Mohammedan Sporting and East Bengal in Kolkata and in the year 1976 he was the top goal scorer with 24 goals in the league. Lateef played for India seven times in various tournaments as a right-winger and striker.
But now with the sport in the doldrums, it seems unlikely that Hyderabad will produce such players in the near future. Footballers in AP face a bleak future thanks to the machinations of the administrators. However if those in power can sink their differences, work for the good of the sport and unearth and develop the talent in the State once again, then perhaps those days of glory may return.
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