The Architect of Modern Indian Football, Syed Abdul Rahim, guided India to the semi-finals of the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Football Tournament. Rahim has always been a sports fanatic, and even as a toddler, he displayed exceptional football skills.
Where was Syed Abdul Rahim born? Ethnicity, Nationality, Family, Education
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Syed, an all-rounder, was born on August 17, 1909, in Hyderabad. He used to participate in sports and athletic events at school and was also a good student.
The ‘culture’ of football arrived in Hyderabad in the mid-1920s, motivating and enticing Rahim to participate. Following that, he joined the football team at Osmania University to represent his alma mater. He was a graduate who started teaching at a public school. He, on the other hand, became a coach and helped India achieve greatness.
Is Syed Abdul Rahim Married? Relationship
Syed Shahid Hakim, a former Olympic footballer and FIFA official, is married and has a son.
How did Syed Abdul Rahim start his Professional Career?
Syed was given the moniker “Stan Cullis” in India. From the 1920s to the early 1940s, he was one of Hyderabad’s top players, playing for the ‘Qamar Club,’ one of the best teams in the local league at the time.
India had a football team at the 1960 Olympics in Rome. In 1939, the Hyderabad Football Association was formed, and three years later, in 1942, SM Hadi was elected President, and Rahim was appointed Secretary, a position he held until his death.
Rahim’s coaching style was one-of-a-kind, inventive, and effective. He developed youth football competitions to help them improve their reflexes, speed, stamina, abilities, and methods.
Syed did not simply dribble the ball, as is customary in the United Kingdom. When he became coach of the ‘Hyderabad City Police’ (HCP) or City Afghans in 1943, he emphasized passing the ball and being ambidextrous, or the ability to play with either foot.
He transformed the HCP squad into a dominant local team in a matter of months, and they rose to prominence in 1943 with their legendary win against the Royal Air Force in the Ashe Gold Cup finals in Bengaluru, which included England’s cricket and football star “Denis Compton.”
They were also able to compete with the top Bengal football teams of the time, defeating Mohun Bagan in the 1950 Durand Cup final.
In 1950, he took over as coach of the Indian national football team while also serving as the director of the Hyderabad City Police Department.
Rahim changed the Indian team’s strategy after taking over as coach. He removed the 1948 Olympic team from the roster. He made decisions that improved the team’s output and efficiency, even if it meant firing underachievers and promoting newcomers.
When India hosted the 1951 Asian Games, Rahim’s first significant tournament as India’s coach occurred. Rahim’s performance earned India a gold medal in the final, in which India defeated Iran 1-0.
Following India’s defeat at the Helsinki Olympics in 1952, a high-ranking AIFF official intervened and prevented Rahim from choosing his preferred team.
Syed Abdul Rahim was a member of India’s Olympic football team in Helsinki in 1952. In 1950, 1957, and 1959, the HPC won all 12 national tournaments.
Prior to 1959, football was seen as two distinct entities in Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh. The two entities were then merged into a single entity, the Andhra Pradesh Football Association, with Rahim playing an important role in this.
At the 1960 Rome Olympics, India got off to a shaky start, losing 2-1 to South Korea, but rebounded to beat Japan 2-0 the next day. After defeating Thailand 4-1 in the final group match, India advanced to the next round. By displaying such spirit at the Olympics, India became a sight to behold.
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