Mohd Habib., second from proper, with Latifuddin Nazam, Olympian and former India coach Syed Nayeemuddin, and former India captain Victor Amalraj in Hyderabad.
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FILE PHOTO: V V SUBRAHMANYAM
HYDERABAD
Mohd. Habib, the soccer playmaker par excellence isn’t any extra. He was 74 and affected by dementia and Parkinson’s syndrome for the final couple of years. He is survived by spouse and three daughters.
Habib represented India in lots of worldwide tournaments between 1965 and 1976. He was thought-about by many consultants as among the best gamers the nation has ever produced and was additionally a bronze medallist within the 1970 Asian Games in Bangkok, led by fellow Hyderabadi Syed Nayeemuddin and managed by the nice P.Ok. Banerjee.
One of the high-points of Habib’s profession was when he turned out for Mohun Bagan in opposition to the visiting Cosmos Club, which featured the legendary Pele in a ‘friendly’ in 1977.
“It will remain one of my greatest moments and it was appreciated by Pele himself at the end of the match. He hugged me and wished me luck,” the Arjuna awardee instructed The Hindu’in considered one of his interviews .
During many conversations through the years, Habib at all times mentioned he wore the Mohammedan Sporting jersey, the membership he joined in 1971, with nice pleasure.
For 17 seasons from 1966-67, Habib, regardless of his diminutive nature, was a stalwart on the soccer grounds of Kolkata, in accordance with former India captain Victor Amalraj.
Habib was additionally instrumental in making the Tata Football Academy right into a pressure to reckon along with his sincerity, ardour and professionalism.
In reality, Habib’s youthful brother, Mohd. Akbar, was additionally an excellent footballer who dominated the Kolkata maidans for lengthy.
“It is a sad feeling to see him suffering from this syndrome. He was such a gifted footballer who on his day was the most-dreaded striker. He was mentored and moulded during his latter half of the career by the great P.K. Banerjee,” Amalraj recalled.
“I have seen fans mob Habib in Kolkata where he has a God-like status, given his awesome reputation as a player. Not many are aware that Habib, a product of City College Old Boys (Hyderabad), pushed East Bengal to new heights, helping it win almost every major trophy in the early 1970s,” mentioned the previous worldwide, who had the excellence of main all of the three huge golf equipment of Kolkata – East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting.
“I learnt many tricks from Habib bhai,” mentioned an emotional Amalraj.
Interestingly, Habib significantly influenced Amalraj, with the latter enjoying beneath him and in addition vice-versa between 1978-82. “I have learnt many tricks from Habib Bhai.”
Telangana Football Association president Mohd. Ali Rafath, secretary G. Palguna, TFA chairman and in addition proprietor of Sreenidi FC Dr. Ok.T. Mahi and Hyderabad FC proprietor Varun Tripuraneni had been amongst those that expressed condolences.