Syed Abdul Rahim is credited with the rise of Indian football in the 1960s.Ajay Devgan will play the character of Abdul Rahim in the film Maidan directed by Amit Sharma.Rahim served as coach for more than a decade from 1950 to 1963.
Bollywood The film ‘Maidaan’ has been made to tell the story of a great football coach Syed Abdul Rahim. Syed Abdul Rahim is credited with the rise of Indian football in the 1960s. Ajay Devgn plays the role of Abdul Rahim in this film directed by Amit Sharma. Abdul Rahim served as the coach of the Indian football team from 1950 to 1963 i.e. for more than a decade. During this period, which is considered the ‘Golden Age of Indian Football’, the country won two gold medals in the Asian Games in 1951 and 1962.
A lot can be said about Indian football and its state today. But, what is undeniable is the rich history of football that has always existed in this country. One of the biggest, but less appreciated names in Indian football is none other than Abdul Rahim. Well, it seems like the legendary coach has now got his much-awaited honour with the release of ‘Maidaan’. If you too want to know more about the Indian football legend Abdul Rahim, then come along as we take a trip down memory lane…
Who is Syed Abdul Rahim?
Syed Abdul Rahim was born on August 17, 1909 in Hyderabad. He was fondly called Rahim sahab. He grew up and represented the football teams of several colleges. Initially he became a teacher at several institutions like Kachiguda Middle School, Urdu Sharif School, Darul-ul-Uloom High School and Chaderghat High School. Rahim’s introduction to coaching came in 1943 when he took charge of the Hyderabad Football Association. He remained in this position till his death. Rahim breathed his last on June 11, 1963 at the age of 53.
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Abdul Rahim became the coach of Hyderabad Police in 1950. Under his guidance, the team won the Rovers Cup five times in a row and the Durand Cup four times. But, his and Indian football’s peak was reached in the 13 years he spent coaching the Indian football team from 1950 onwards. This period is considered the ‘Golden Age of Indian Football’.
architect of indian football
Considered the architect of Indian football, Abdul Rahim was the coach of Indian football from 1950-1963. It was under his supervision and his advanced strategies of the time that the Indian football team reached the semi-finals of the 1956 Melbourne Olympics football. The Indian team became the first Asian team to reach that prestigious milestone. After refusing to participate in the 1950 FIFA World Cup, India won the gold medal in the 1951 Asian Games by defeating the strong Iranian team 1-0 in front of a packed home crowd in Delhi in the presence of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. This journey to the top of the Asian football world was possible due to the foresight and vision of Rahim sahab, who insisted on resorting to the ‘one-touch’ style of football as well as focusing on training to help weak feet.
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Chosen 4-2-4 format
But, his greatest moment of brilliance came when the revolutionary coach opted for a 4-2-4 system. It was a format that was made very popular by the Brazilian team in the 1958 and 1962 World Cups. Rahim sahab’s contribution to Indian football did not stop even after he retired from the game. His determination and passion to develop and nurture players who could become even better coaches to help take Indian football forward was his forte.
Abdul Rahim was quoted as saying in an interview to the Indian Express in 1955, “First of all, we must create or train makers or trainers.” He added, “No short-term scheme for training existing footballers or any scheme to send footballers abroad for training will do any lasting good to the game.”
His dream of developing a network of coaches to help the All India Football Federation (AIFF) discover and develop talent across the country remains a dream. For those who want to be aware of the rich history of Indian football, the film Maidaan promises to give a glimpse of the same.
Tags: Ajay Devgn, Indian football, Indian Footballer
FIRST PUBLISHED : April 15, 2024, 15:41 IST
