Two Spaniards and as many Brazilians, one Jamaican and Austrian constitute the core team of Hyderabad Football Club, who notched up their maiden win in the Indian Super League (ISL) on Saturday.
The Charminar city fought back a goal down to overcome Kerala Blasters 2-1 at their home ground after kicking off their ISL campaign with consecutive defeats (5-0 vs ATK and 3-1 vs Jamshedpur FC) last week.
Surprisingly, the team has not hired a single player from the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, which has gifted the country with some of the finest footballers in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
Tulsidas Balaram, one of the living legends of Indian football along with PK Banerjee and Chuni Goswami, welcomed the idea to revive football activity in Hyderabad.
“Such an effort was overdue,” Balaram told Khelupdates.com.
But he was quick to add that the franchisee owners should have put in their best effort to select home-grown footballers.
“I want to see a Hyderabadi playing in this side. I hope the club owners will focus on promoting local talents,” said the 83-year-old, who was one of the key players in the 1962 Asian Games gold-winning Indian team.
Hyderabad’s football owes it to Rahim
Hyderabad and Secunderabad once had a strong football base in the 1950s and 1960s, but with the withering away of the mighty Hyderabad City Police, mentored by the great visionary India coach Syed Abdul Rahim, the sport’s development came to a standstill.
Rahim, who guided India to two Asian Games gold in 1951 and 1962, developed the sport by organising non-dribbling tournaments where the 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.
New generation shy away from football
With football in obscurity, Hyderabad is now left only with its biryani and badminton to boast.
Even the young generation shy away from the sport which once made their city a hotbed of Indian football.
“The new generation in Hyderabad think that football is a poor man’s game. Most of these youngsters shy away from hard work. They want bikes, smartphones and junk food,” former India international Mohammad Farid said from Hyderabad.
Interestingly, Farid, whose real name is Shazore Alam Khan, was the last Hyderabadi to play in all the top three clubs in Calcutta.
Hyderabad has served Indian football with pride, but not anymore.
There’s a lurking doubt on whether Hyderabad FC will ever revive a football culture that produced a dozen Olympians.
Even the success Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting’s success in domestic tournaments from 1950s to 1980s depended a lot on the Hyderabadis.
“It’s sad not to find a single Hyderabad footballer in the national team,” said Balaram.
Badminton, cricket top gainers
The success of badminton players Pullela Gopichand, Saina Nehwal and reigning world champion PV Sindhu has given the younger generation a new ray of hope.
With the national football team’s performance limited to the regional level competitions and lack of football activity in the state, badminton is being seen by the parents and stakeholders as the sport which could fetch fame and wealth.
“Football has no takers in Hyderabad. There’sagenuinelack of interest among the school students. The parents also want their kids to join cricket and badminton,” added Farid.
Lack of sports culture
Former India captain Victor Amalraj, whose elder brother John captained Mohammedan Sporting in 1967, said that the city definitely lacks a sports culture.
“Sports culture is very important. It 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 Victor.
After Rahim’s death in 1963, the supply-line from Hyderabad-Secunderabad was still steady as Syed Nayeemuddin, brothers Mohammad Habib and Akbar plied their trade in Calcutta.
But a lack of planning and encouragement in the 1970s meant only a handful including Syed Latifuddin Najam (1970), Victor (1978), Shabbir Ali (1978) and Farid (1981) received offers from the Calcutta clubs.
Politics killed Hyderabad football
Infighting and faction rivalry in the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh Football Association in the last 25 years has doomed the sport’s future in Hyderabad.
The state league was in shambles while the officials dribbled each other for power. In quick time, just like their Nizams, football also became a part of their folklore.
“I’ve seen the match highlights between Kolkata and Hyderabad. There’s nothing to shout about on the team. The football culture is dead in the city. To be honest, they’ll have a tough time,” added Victor.
But Nayeemuddin, a former India captain and coach and one of the finest defenders during his time, nurtures a hope.
“I’m happy that a Hyderabad team is competing at the national level after a long time. If they do well, it’ll be a rebirth of Hyderabad football,” said Nayeemuddin.
True facts I am very much happy that Khel Update are doing a nice job let’s hope football in Hyderabad will come up in future
Shazore Alam Khan is correct name
Not Shajore
It is wonderful that the glory days of Hyderabad football are being recalled with apt comments by legends of yesteryears, T. Balaram, Syed Nayeemuddin, Shabbir Ali, Farid and Victor Amalraj. Such was the depth of talent in Hyderabad that in 1960 when East Bengal did the Delhi double winning both the DCM and Durand tournaments in the pace of a few months, four of their five forwards were from Hyderabad, inside right B. Narayan, centre forward D. Kannan, inside left T. Balaram and outside left Kanki Das. The right winger Kannaiyan was from Bangalore