Mohammad Farid: Hyderabad's last top star

At a wedding reception in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, nearly a decade ago, one of the guests struck up a conversation with me. “You’re from Calcutta, so you must know Mohammad Farid,” he said. “He’s my first cousin—and he was a footballer.”

When I told him that Farid, now 58, had been among the most popular footballers of the 1980s and early ’90s, he looked genuinely surprised. 

He admitted that the family had never really followed Farid’s career, largely because there wasn’t much interest in football at home.

"We really didn't know about his achievements and, that he also played for India," he added. 

Not just him—in fact, most people outside Calcutta either never knew or have long forgotten this unassuming former attacking midfielder. 

One reason is the near absence of material about him online, barring a few yellowed pages of old Bengali football magazines.

Farid began his senior career with Hyderabad City Police in 1974 and played there until 1977 before moving to Calcutta.

 

Despite enjoying a glittering career with Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting, he chose to remain away from the limelight after retirement. He finally hung up his boots in 2000, representing his office team, the Food Corporation of India (FCI).

The purpose of this blog is to chronicle his 19-year journey in Calcutta football and to introduce a new generation to a gutsy, skilful player who holds a rare distinction—Mohammad Farid was the last footballer from Hyderabad to represent all three of Calcutta’s iconic clubs.

His fans in Bengal still remember his last-minute goal against Nepal in the 1987 SAF Games football final while some post old photographs from some of his outstanding performances on the Facebook.

“One of my friends introduced me to Facebook recently, and it felt wonderful to reconnect with fans and former team-mates,” he said. “I never thought of telling the world about my achievements. It never seemed necessary—the love and admiration from fans and team-mates were always enough. But thanks to Facebook, I’m now flooded with friend requests from supporters I don’t even know,” he added, a quiet surge of pride evident in his voice.

Farid also represented the country at the Kings Cup (Bangkok, 1981), UAE friendlies matches (Dubai, 1981), Presidents Cup (Seoul, 1982), Asian Games (New Delhi, 1982), Nehru Cup (Calicut, 1986) and SAF Games (Calcutta, 1987).

I saw his cover photo on a popular Bengali magazine Khelar Kagoj after he joined East Bengal in 1981, but met him for the first time last year at our common relative’s place at Mehdipatnam, Hyderabad.

So, how did he land up in Calcutta?

“In 1980, I was selected for the senior national team for the 1982 Asian Games. The preparation had started two years before at the insistence of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The camp was held at Salt Lake Stadium. We were put up at Karunamayee,” said Farid, who was born on July 7, 1959. 

His coy and sober nature was always appreciated while his grit and determination were his assets on the field. 

“One day, the then East Bengal football secretary took me to a south Calcutta flat where I was offered to join them. Later, they kept me at Hotel Bliss at Ekdalia Road. They released me only after I had signed a contract. I was just 20 then.”

That’s how Farid’s journey to the City of Joy started. He was lucky to have played alongside star Hyderabadis Mohammad Habib (in EB), Victor Amalraj (EB, MS and MB) and Shabbir Ali (MS).

Farid performed with such steel and style that he remained a top catch for all the clubs in those golden years in Calcutta.

“I left East Bengal and joined Mohammedan in 1983, but switched to Bagan the next year,” he said.

In fact, Farid, whose real name is Shazore Alam Khan, had his best stint at the green and maroon club.

Those three years were the most enjoyable one in my career. I’ve had a very good experience at Bagan. I won’t ever forget Mr Dhiren Dey’s love and respect for the players. 

“He had a style statement and never spoke in Bengali. He used to address me as ‘Mr Farid’. There was no delay in payment and the club used to give me to-and-fro airfare to Hyderabad. It was a huge encouragement,” reminisced Farid, who rejoined Mohammedan in 1987 on a five-year contract.

Today, Calcutta is his home where he divides his time between his job at FCI and, in the evening gives free coaching at Salt Lake’s DL Block to poor kids from Keshtopur since 1992.