Muree's death snaps link with golden era of soccer in B'desh
Friday, 11 May 2012
Fazle Rashid
MINIAPOLIS, May 10: The sad demise of Muree snaps a link with the golden era of football in Bangladesh. The combination of Muree, Ashraf and Kabir struck terror in the defence wall of the opposition team. They were backed by Gaznavi in the defence. This scribe as a sports reporter in early 60s had witnessed this combination to produce sparkling football.
The other names that crowd my mind are those of Mukta, Bashir, Ranjit Das, Ejaz Rasul, Nabi Chowdhury, Khaleq, Mintoo, FR Khan and many more whose names I cannot recollect now. Some played more than one game with equal deftness. Mukta, besides being a footballer, was also a good athlete, Bashir played football and hockey, Ejaz Rasul played hockey, football and cricket and Mintoo and Khaleq played football and cricket.
Dhaka hosted many important tournaments like Quadrangular football which was participated by Pakistan, India, Burma and Sri Lanka. The inter-province football in the then Pakistan was another tournament that attracted thousands of football fans. Despite animosity, visit to Dhaka by Calcutta football teams was a regular affair. Mohammadan Sporting, East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and IFA team frequently visited Dhaka. Teams from the then East Pakistan participated in prestigious tournaments like the IFA shield, Durand Cup and Rovers Cup in India.
Cricket was still not popular as it is now. Football was the craze of the people. Footballers from the then West Pakistan and India played for Dhaka teams. Dhaka footballers played for Calcutta teams.
MINIAPOLIS, May 10: The sad demise of Muree snaps a link with the golden era of football in Bangladesh. The combination of Muree, Ashraf and Kabir struck terror in the defence wall of the opposition team. They were backed by Gaznavi in the defence. This scribe as a sports reporter in early 60s had witnessed this combination to produce sparkling football.
The other names that crowd my mind are those of Mukta, Bashir, Ranjit Das, Ejaz Rasul, Nabi Chowdhury, Khaleq, Mintoo, FR Khan and many more whose names I cannot recollect now. Some played more than one game with equal deftness. Mukta, besides being a footballer, was also a good athlete, Bashir played football and hockey, Ejaz Rasul played hockey, football and cricket and Mintoo and Khaleq played football and cricket.
Dhaka hosted many important tournaments like Quadrangular football which was participated by Pakistan, India, Burma and Sri Lanka. The inter-province football in the then Pakistan was another tournament that attracted thousands of football fans. Despite animosity, visit to Dhaka by Calcutta football teams was a regular affair. Mohammadan Sporting, East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and IFA team frequently visited Dhaka. Teams from the then East Pakistan participated in prestigious tournaments like the IFA shield, Durand Cup and Rovers Cup in India.
Cricket was still not popular as it is now. Football was the craze of the people. Footballers from the then West Pakistan and India played for Dhaka teams. Dhaka footballers played for Calcutta teams.