Ashok Ogra
Football is called the beautiful game. But the beauty is enhanced by the great rivalries. Indeed, without the rivalries, it would never feel the same.
For instance, there are no real political divides between Brazil and Argentina, so the rivalry was born solely out of football. The battle of Pele or Maradona also adds some spice to the rivalry.
The matches between Mohun Bagan (players who are the original residents of West Bengal) versus East Bengal Club (made up of those who migrated from East Pakistan) are simply the biggest game in Indian football. Divided by culture, yet united by passion, it is always a game both want to win and hate to lose.
We in J&K witnessed similar rivalry during the 1960- 70- particularly between the football teams representing the State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) and the Food & Supplies Department. Their faithful fans would give this compelling rivalry an added dimension.
Outstanding players like Farooq Ahmed Bhat aka ‘Pele’ of Kashmir, Muhammad Yousuf Dar (known for producing delicious moves), Mohammad Hanif, Ghulam Rasool (Lasse Waza), Shafi Nari and many others mesmerized the fans with their delicate, rhythmic and dazzling passes. It was believed that when the ball neared Farooq’s feet, he knew he was going to score.
Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad, the ex. Prime Minister in his era would also enjoy watching the tournaments with great interest. There have been instances when Bakshi Sahab and his brother laced up their shoes to take up the role of a referee.
In his article written for the Daily Excelsior, the veteran footballer of yesterday’s Prof. M.L.Raina provides an interesting historical account of the game in the state. It was Tyndale Biscoe who in1891 introduced the game in Srinagar despite initial hesitation from Pandit students to touch the ball because it was made of ‘leather’.
“All right, said the Principal Biscoe, holy or unholy, you are going to play ‘football’ this afternoon at 3:30pm.” Rest as they say is history.
During the regime of Maharaja Hari Singh, the sport gained popularity across the valley as more schools and colleges began to introduce the game. Friends Club, J &K Police Club, Idgah Club and Suliman Club became household names in the early part of the 20th century. S.P.College was the first team to travel outside of Kashmir to take part in a tournament in Rawalpindi. Around the 1940s only a few teams played football in the state, with players like Ghulam Qadir, Mehrajuddin Khan and Abdul Ghani appearing for their respective teams.
Another footballer of the state, Omkar Singh formed the Khalsa Sports Club in 1956. There was also a Kashmiri Pandit footballer (can’t recollect his name) who made a mark during this time.
After independence, the Kashmir Olympic Association took over the management of the game in the state. It was in 1964 that the J&K Football Association was formed.
In Jammu, the mini Parade Stadium used to host a number of important tournaments. I remember as a school -going kid in the mid 1960s watching the J & K Road Transport take on Punjab Police. As expected, the magical striker Farooq Bhat scored the only goal to win the match- much to the delight of the huge football enthusiasts that had occupied every inch of space.
This excerpt from the FB post titled THAT USED TO BE MY (OUR) WORLD CUP – of my esteemed friend Sohail Iqbal, who is an avid soccer fan and a keen observer of the socio- cultural life of Kashmir- best describes the quality of the players and the mass following they enjoyed during that period:”Rising early sixties, I turned as impressionable noticing the manner the football world melded within the crucible of the proceedings of the World Cup. I am mindful of the sporting prowess that we got to witness during our formative years, and through much of our youth and early adulthood…. When Muhammad Yousuf Dar, one of the finest footballers of the Valley stepped on the fields of the stadium, it came across as one of the greatest spectacles…. Muhammad Yousuf Dar used to be a rage, and as time went by, and I knew who the footballer George Best was, I often link Yousuf with Best for the impressive shape and cut of the sideburns…..Indeed, my note may not be considered an essay for there is no diligent substance in it, except to assert that we too enjoyed our own World Cup between Food & Transport! Sure, that was my WC. And why not?”
From the football ground of Eidgah the state has been blessed with so many heroes of the game – particularly the ‘Bhat’ family, also known by ‘Kishah’. It began when a handsome 17 year old from this family, Ghulam Mohammad Bhat (Gul Kishah) began to play as a right-out striker. He went on to represent the state in the Santosh Trophy and participated in other tournaments around the country. His younger brother Ghulam Ahmad Bhat (Amm Kishah) played his first Santosh Trophy in 1970 . He was among the best defenders of the time. He played in almost all top tournaments: Durand Cup, DCM Cup and Federation Cup and others. The youngest brother Ghulam Nabi Bhat (Nab Kishah) emerged as the top dribbler.
The legacy of the family has been taken forward by their next generation, Uzair Bhat and Sahil Bhat – both representing the state at various tournaments.
The story of another legendary footballer, Mohammad Hussain Bhat is equally inspiring. It was Farooq Ahmad Bhat who spotted his talent as a brilliant striker of the ball. Other notable players to appear on the state scene were Hussain, MajeedKakroo, Farooq Boola, Nazir Ahmad Bhat,
Mohammad Lateef and many others playing a crucial role.
The sixth edition of the Nehru Cup in 1987 was a special one for Kashmir football – Abdul MajeedKakroo became the first player from Jammu & Kashmir to captain the Indian football team and was also one of the highest-paid Indian footballers of his time.
The game had a dedicated following in Kashmir and had thrown up players of repute every now and then. However, the onset of an armed insurgency in 1990 disrupted the tournaments only to resurface a few years ago with league matches becoming very popular.
With their hard work and dedication, players like Mehraj-ud-Din Wadoo, Ishfaq Ahmad and Arun Malhotra started to make their mark at national and international level in the early 2000s. And these players became a source of inspiration for young footballers.
The holding of the 62nd edition of Santosh Trophy from May 25 to June 15, 2008 in Jammu and Kashmir after a gap of three decades was a pinnacle moment in J&K Football.
Football is also healing old wounds that have their roots in those disruptive days. For a few, like Dashyanng Kachru, it was an emotional moment when he decided to play in Kashmir a season ago.
In recent years, Real Kashmir FC has proved to be a great platform for players like Danish Farooq to showcase his talent. After his five-year stint at the club, he signed a contract with the Bengaluru FC. Muheet Shabir and Sajad Parray are among many other players from the state to play in IPL.
Ishan Pandita, 20, originally from Tral in south Kashmir and now settled abroad, became the first Indian to sign a professional contract in Spain.
Credit goes to Mehrajudin Wadoo for founding the Women’s football team and ensuring participation in the Indian Women’s Premier Football League a few years ago.
Jammu & Kashmir is perhaps the only state (now UT) in the country where football enjoys huge popularity. The state is home to over 500 football clubs- producing great talent. Meanwhile, Real Kashmir scored 2-1 victory over Sreenidi Deccan in a sixth-round match of the I-League played this week.
However, uninterrupted peace has to prevail in the valley for the ‘ballet of the masses’ to flourish – a necessary pre-requisite for the State to reclaim its own World Cup.
(The author works for the Apeejay Education Society)
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