Indian football: The tale of the unbeatable Mohammedan Sporting side of 1930s
Mohammedan Sporting were the first native Indian club to win the Calcutta Football League title…
Mohammedan Sporting Club, often considered the third giant of Kolkata football, may have lost their sheen since the beginning of the 21st century but they used to be a powerhouse in Indian football at one point of time.
In fact, they enjoyed considerable success even before the other two giants of Kolkata football, namely Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. The Black Panthers were the first native Indian club to win the Calcutta Football League (CFL) league in 1934 after being just promoted to the top division.
They went on to win the league in the next four editions as well and set a record of winning the title five times in a row, a record which was only bettered by East Bengal when they won it six years on the trot from 1970 to 1975. More recently, East Bengal won it eight years in a row.
Mohammedan’s dominance lasted for nine years starting from 1934 to 1942. During this period, they won 15 trophies including five CFLs, three Durand Cups, three IFA Shields and one Rovers Cup. They came close to winning the ‘triple crown’ on two occasions, in 1936 and 1941 when they had won the IFA Shield and the Durand Cup but on both occasions, they missed out on winning the Rovers Cup.
Mohammedan Sporting was established as Jubilee club in the year 1887 by Nawab Azizul Islam. They changed the name twice first to Crescent club and then to the present name in 1891 which is officially considered as the founding year of the club.
The club did not enjoy much success in its initial years as they had managed to win just the Coochbehar Cup thrice in 1902, 1906 and 1909. But under the able leadership of official C.A Aziz, the club embraced the changes in the game. It was Aziz along with Aryan club pioneer Sir Dukhiram Majumder, who understood the importance of Indian players wearing boots. In fact, Mohammedan were the first Indian club to play with boots.
During Mohammedan’s glorious years, Indian football witnessed the rise of a superstar, Mohammed Salim, who was the first Indian player to play in Europe. Scottish giants, Celtic FC had called the Calcutta-born (now Kolkata) winger for trials after they saw his exploits against Chinese Olympics side in two matches which were played in India in 1936.
As a part of his trial, Salim played two matches for the club and impressed the Celtic management. He was very close to become the first Asian player to play professionally in Europe but unfortunately, he became homesick and decided to return home and rejoin Mohammedan Sporting.
Other than Salim, the big names who donned the Black and White jersey in that era are defenders Taj Muhammad and Jumma Khan. The duo of Khan and Muhammad in the two-man defence was the best in the country in those days.
Mohammedan had also recruited goalkeeper Osman Jan from Delhi Crescent club. According to legendary Indian defender Sailen Manna, Jan was the greatest goalkeeper he has ever seen in his lifetime. Standing at just 5'6", Jan had a very big leap and a powerful fist.
The Black Panthers are no more the giants they once were behind but their dominance during the 1930s is still unmatched.
Mr. Sk. Wasim Akram on Wednesday formally took charge as the Hony. General Secretary of Mohammedan Sporting Club.
After former General Secretary Mr. Mohammed Qamaruddin vacated the post due to personal reasons, 33-year-old Mr. Akram was elected the Secretary unopposed at the Executive Committee meeting, chaired by President Mohammed Amiruddin.
“We are delighted to have Wasim Akram as our General Secretary. We have no doubt he will help strengthen our administration and steer the ship forward,” said Mr. Amiruddin.
While Mr. Akram will be the General Secretary, Mr. Sharique Ahmed and Mr. Dipendu Biswas were elected as Finance Secretary and Football Secretary respectively.
“I am honoured to be associated with Mohammedan Sporting Club and would like to thank, the Executive Committee for considering me for this post. There was a time when Mohammedan Sporting Club set the benchmark in Indian Football and we will leave no stones unturned to take Mohammedan Sporting Club where it belongs,” said Mr. Akram.
Mr. Ahmed said,”My immediate target is to channelize our resources properly. We need to allocate accordingly to cricket, athletics and even work on the cultural aspects of the club.”
He also requested fans to get life membership and make the club even stronger.
Mr. Biswas made it clear that as Football Secretary his primary objective is to qualify for I-League. He also mentioned that he have a long term vision for the club which includes emphasis on our grassroots program and promoting local talent.
Mohammedan Sporting Club are in a state of mourning following the passing of former Office Secretary Muhammad Shafique on Thursday after battling a prolonged illness in Aurangabad. He was 99.
“He was a soft spoken person,” General Secretary Mr. Sk. Wasim Akram remembers Shafique. “We used to call him Munshi Ji. It is sad to bid ultimate farewell to one of the longest serving members of Black Panthers family.”
Shafique rendered his services as the Office Secretary from 1954 to 2007. “He was a methodical person and carried his duties with diligence,” recalls Mr. Akram, “He is one of the highly disciplined members that have graced our Club. The Club benefitted immensely from his skills. He will be sorely missed.”
“I wish the family will find comfort in the legacy that Munshi Ji is leaving behind. On behalf of Mohammedan Sporting Club I wish to convey my deepest heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones.” Mr. Akram concluded.
Shafique will be cremated at Aurangabad tomorrow, and Mohammedan Sporting Club flag will be lowered to half-mast to mark the day of mourning.
Mohammedan Sporting Installed First Sanitizing Tunnel At Kolkata Maidan
Mohammedan Sporting Club have scaled up preventive measures to ward off coronavirus by installing a disinfectant tunnel at Club tent on Friday, so that those entering the club premises can get disinfected first. It is also the first sanitizing tunnel at Kolkata maidan.
IFA Secretary Mr. Joydeep Mukherjee inaugurated the tunnel alongside Mohammedan Sporting Secretary Sk. Wasim Akram, Asst. Secretary Dr. Taha Ahmed, Finance Secretary Sharique Ahmed, Athletic Secretary Hasnain Ahmed, Youth Development Chairman Danish Iqbal and Manager Belal Ahmed Khan.
The tunnel has the mechanism to spray people with chemicals to kill all germs.
It is fitted with a sensor which would start a motor as soon as a person enters it. The sprinklers attached to the motor would spray water mixed with sanitizer which would kill the gemcides on the person’s dress and body.
The popular fan's club of Mohammedan Sporting Club "Black Panthers Fan Club" has set a new record in the history of Mohammedan Sporting Club
For the first time in the history of the club, this fan's club, which shook the gallery of Maidan, got official recognition and approval.
The General Secretary of Mohammedan Sporting Club Sk. Wasim Akram announced the fan's club as the official fan club of the Club in the Club tent yesterday.
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Indian football: The tale of the unbeatable Mohammedan Sporting side of 1930s
Mohammedan Sporting were the first native Indian club to win the Calcutta Football League title…
Mohammedan Sporting Club, often considered the third giant of Kolkata football, may have lost their sheen since the beginning of the 21st century but they used to be a powerhouse in Indian football at one point of time.
In fact, they enjoyed considerable success even before the other two giants of Kolkata football, namely Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. The Black Panthers were the first native Indian club to win the Calcutta Football League (CFL) league in 1934 after being just promoted to the top division.
They went on to win the league in the next four editions as well and set a record of winning the title five times in a row, a record which was only bettered by East Bengal when they won it six years on the trot from 1970 to 1975. More recently, East Bengal won it eight years in a row.Mohammedan’s dominance lasted for nine years starting from 1934 to 1942. During this period, they won 15 trophies including five CFLs, three Durand Cups, three IFA Shields and one Rovers Cup. They came close to winning the ‘triple crown’ on two occasions, in 1936 and 1941 when they had won the IFA Shield and the Durand Cup but on both occasions, they missed out on winning the Rovers Cup.
Mohammedan Sporting was established as Jubilee club in the year 1887 by Nawab Azizul Islam. They changed the name twice first to Crescent club and then to the present name in 1891 which is officially considered as the founding year of the club.
The club did not enjoy much success in its initial years as they had managed to win just the Coochbehar Cup thrice in 1902, 1906 and 1909. But under the able leadership of official C.A Aziz, the club embraced the changes in the game. It was Aziz along with Aryan club pioneer Sir Dukhiram Majumder, who understood the importance of Indian players wearing boots. In fact, Mohammedan were the first Indian club to play with boots.
During Mohammedan’s glorious years, Indian football witnessed the rise of a superstar, Mohammed Salim, who was the first Indian player to play in Europe. Scottish giants, Celtic FC had called the Calcutta-born (now Kolkata) winger for trials after they saw his exploits against Chinese Olympics side in two matches which were played in India in 1936.
As a part of his trial, Salim played two matches for the club and impressed the Celtic management. He was very close to become the first Asian player to play professionally in Europe but unfortunately, he became homesick and decided to return home and rejoin Mohammedan Sporting.
Other than Salim, the big names who donned the Black and White jersey in that era are defenders Taj Muhammad and Jumma Khan. The duo of Khan and Muhammad in the two-man defence was the best in the country in those days.
Mohammedan had also recruited goalkeeper Osman Jan from Delhi Crescent club. According to legendary Indian defender Sailen Manna, Jan was the greatest goalkeeper he has ever seen in his lifetime. Standing at just 5'6", Jan had a very big leap and a powerful fist.
The Black Panthers are no more the giants they once were behind but their dominance during the 1930s is still unmatched.
https://www.goal.com/en/news/indian-football-the-tale-of-the-unbeatable-mohammedan/1loskn0qvp1qj1e9u5uuucokf4
Mr. Sk. Wasim Akram on Wednesday formally took charge as the Hony. General Secretary of Mohammedan Sporting Club.
After former General Secretary Mr. Mohammed Qamaruddin vacated the post due to personal reasons, 33-year-old Mr. Akram was elected the Secretary unopposed at the Executive Committee meeting, chaired by President Mohammed Amiruddin.
“We are delighted to have Wasim Akram as our General Secretary. We have no doubt he will help strengthen our administration and steer the ship forward,” said Mr. Amiruddin.
While Mr. Akram will be the General Secretary, Mr. Sharique Ahmed and Mr. Dipendu Biswas were elected as Finance Secretary and Football Secretary respectively.
“I am honoured to be associated with Mohammedan Sporting Club and would like to thank, the Executive Committee for considering me for this post. There was a time when Mohammedan Sporting Club set the benchmark in Indian Football and we will leave no stones unturned to take Mohammedan Sporting Club where it belongs,” said Mr. Akram.
Mr. Ahmed said,”My immediate target is to channelize our resources properly. We need to allocate accordingly to cricket, athletics and even work on the cultural aspects of the club.”
He also requested fans to get life membership and make the club even stronger.
Mr. Biswas made it clear that as Football Secretary his primary objective is to qualify for I-League. He also mentioned that he have a long term vision for the club which includes emphasis on our grassroots program and promoting local talent.
http://www.mohammedansportingindia.com/?page_id=59
Mohammedan Sporting Remembers Munshi Ji
Mohammedan Sporting Club are in a state of mourning following the passing of former Office Secretary Muhammad Shafique on Thursday after battling a prolonged illness in Aurangabad. He was 99.
“He was a soft spoken person,” General Secretary Mr. Sk. Wasim Akram remembers Shafique. “We used to call him Munshi Ji. It is sad to bid ultimate farewell to one of the longest serving members of Black Panthers family.”
Shafique rendered his services as the Office Secretary from 1954 to 2007. “He was a methodical person and carried his duties with diligence,” recalls Mr. Akram, “He is one of the highly disciplined members that have graced our Club. The Club benefitted immensely from his skills. He will be sorely missed.”
“I wish the family will find comfort in the legacy that Munshi Ji is leaving behind. On behalf of Mohammedan Sporting Club I wish to convey my deepest heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones.” Mr. Akram concluded.
Shafique will be cremated at Aurangabad tomorrow, and Mohammedan Sporting Club flag will be lowered to half-mast to mark the day of mourning.
http://www.mohammedansportingindia.com/?p=4570
Mohammedan Sporting Installed First Sanitizing Tunnel At Kolkata Maidan
Mohammedan Sporting Club have scaled up preventive measures to ward off coronavirus by installing a disinfectant tunnel at Club tent on Friday, so that those entering the club premises can get disinfected first. It is also the first sanitizing tunnel at Kolkata maidan.
IFA Secretary Mr. Joydeep Mukherjee inaugurated the tunnel alongside Mohammedan Sporting Secretary Sk. Wasim Akram, Asst. Secretary Dr. Taha Ahmed, Finance Secretary Sharique Ahmed, Athletic Secretary Hasnain Ahmed, Youth Development Chairman Danish Iqbal and Manager Belal Ahmed Khan.
The tunnel has the mechanism to spray people with chemicals to kill all germs.
It is fitted with a sensor which would start a motor as soon as a person enters it. The sprinklers attached to the motor would spray water mixed with sanitizer which would kill the gemcides on the person’s dress and body.
http://www.mohammedansportingindia.com/?p=4607