Mymensingh deserves to be venue of nat'l, int'l sports
Saturday, 4 August 2012
Iftu Ahmed
Nation has forgotten the glory of Mymensingh sports! During British-India (1757-1947), Calcutta Mohun Began Athletic Club was established in 1889. It was the first Indian club that defeated East Yorkshire Regiment, the European club by 2-1 and lifted the first-ever 1911 Indian Football Association (IFA) Shield. Avilash Ghosh of Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club was then the centre forward of Calcutta Mohun Began Athletic Club.
Muslims are a nation. For political identity, Calcutta Mohammedan Sporting Club was born in 1891. In 1887, Calcutta Mohammedan Sporting Club was known as Jubilee Club under the leadership of Nawab Amirul Islam. Later Jubilee Club came to Crescent Club. The Crescent Club changed to Hamidia Club and finally, Hamidia Club transformed to Calcutta Mohammedan Sporting Club.
Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club was founded in 1898 after seven years of Calcutta Mohammedan Sporting Club. The birth of Calcutta East Bengal Club was in 1920 and Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting Club was in 1936. So, Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club kicked off their mission prior to Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting Club in Bangladesh.
Even though the characteristics of Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club were for separate identity of Muslims and Muslim players, there were no influences of sectarianism in the Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club. At the very outset, many European and English men who were involved with the jute business of Mymensingh, used to play football regularly with Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club. It may be mentioned here that in those days Mymensingh was very famous in the world for jute producing businesses. Besides, Hindu-Muslim players played side by side in the Mymensingh Mohammaden Sporting Club. Kiran Acharya was a noted right out of Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club and he was famous for his attractive corner kicks. Avilash Ghosh, known as Black Giant, Noga De and Davinath etc were skilled footballers of Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club.
In 1901, the Mymensingh Sports Association (MSA) was formed. Its president was the then district magistrate, general secretary was Shri Romonikanta Chowdhury and member was Moharaja Shoshikanta Acharya Chowdhury. In 1956, MSA was transformed to Mymensingh District Sports Association (MDSA).
When Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club was born, there was no local clubs except European Clubs. Later the sports world of Mymensingh was blessed after the creation of Mymensingh Friends Eleven Club in 1901, Panditpara Athletic Club in 1910 and Station Quarters Athletic Club in 1931.
In 1937, Islington Corinthians, the formidable soccer team of England came to Dhaka and played an exhibition match with Dhaka XI, but was defeated by 1-0. Pakhi Sen of Mymensingh scored that historical goal and Mosaraf Hossain Kala of Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club also played in that match. It may be mentioned here that the Islington Corinthians was unbeaten in India and Burma.
In 1938, the Calcutta Mohammedan Sporting Club came to play an exhibition match in Mymensingh with the Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club in the local college ground and the match ended 2-2.
In 1939, the soccer team of Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club participated in the Brabourne Shield of Calcutta and defeated Ceylon XI and Abbas Ali Ahmed was its Chief Official. In the same year, the Mymensingh Friends Eleven Club earned a rare honour to capture the Indian Cup which was equivalent with the IFA Shield.
In 1940, the biggest football tournament was held in Mymensingh between Calcutta Mohammedan Sporting Club and combined Calcutta East Bengal Club, and Calcutta Mohammedan Sporting Club and Calcutta Kalighat Athletic Club through the courtesy of Abbas Ali Ahmed, the general secretary of Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club and Khaja Nuruddin, the general secretary of Calcutta Mohammedan Sporting Club. The Calcutta Mohammedan Sporting Club won in these two exhibition football matches by 1-0.
In 1941, Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club defeated the formidable Panditpara Athletic Club by 3-2 in the MSA Football League Championship. In this game, the remarkable memory was Illias Uddin Ahmed's (the eldest son of Abbas Ali Ahmed) powerful shot from the 22 yards which defeated the goalkeeper of Panditpara Athletic Club.
Panditpara Athletic Club was MSA Football League Champion for 18 years from 1922 through 1939. Besides, the famous Calcutta Mohun Began Athletic Club played several times with the local Panditpara Athletic Club, but was unable to beat the Panditpara Athletic Club. Panditpara Athletic Club was the holder of the famous Surjakanta Shield of Mymensingh several times.
Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club secured most championships in the Mymensingh District Football League since its birth and won the Surjakanta Shield several times, too.
There is a legend about a penalty kick. Illias Uddin Ahmed of Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club kicked the ball so hard that Dipu, the goalkeeper of Panditpara Club who used to play for Calcutta East Bengal Club, grabbed the ball firmly, but flew into the goal net along with the ball and fell senseless. It was a miracle goal and the sense of Dipu returned at 12 a.m. It may be mentioned here that Illias Uddin Ahmed was the first man of Bangladesh who obtained the Bachelor of Physical Education (BPE) degree from the University of Oregon, USA in 1958 and he was the soccer captain of that university.
Those All Indian footballers of Mymensingh who participated in the First Division Football League of Calcutta, known as the birthplace of soccer of India and in the IFA Shield, were Avilash Ghose, Sudhangshu Bose, S Chakraborty, Noni Goswami, Hemanga Mohan Bose, Vanu Datta, M Datta Roy, Rakhal Mujumdar, Pakhi Sen, Ganesh Goes, D Bhowmik, Rajab Ali, D Guha, Abdur Rashid Goda, Suraj Goes, M A Khan, Illias Uddin Ahmed, Suraj Goes Chutku, Chuni Goswami, Tapan Chowdhury and Captain Malay Lahiri.
The Inter District Football of then East Pakistan kicked off in 1951. Mymensingh District XI played in the final in the first three times and won in the Inter District final title in the first and the third times.
Behind the scene who made the glorious contributions for Mymensingh District XI in the then East Pakistan inter District Football Championship were Abdul Hamid, Upen Roy, Chan, Mokbul Hossain, Illias Uddin Ahmed, Dulu Goes, Nepal Chakraborty, Masudul Hasan Jamali, Taibur Rahman Vanu, Girin Master and Mollik.
Mymensingh is the birthplace of not only footballers but also of many fine cricketers and athletes, and many of them played in the national and international levels. Many of Mymensingh Sports writers published sporting articles in the national dailies. Its management skills were so outstanding that even British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) praised Mymensingh sports and cricket turf of Mymensingh Stadium.
Unfortunately, the glory of Mymensingh sports is coming to ebb-tide. The Ministry of Sports can make Mymensingh sports vivid through its suitable projects and schemes, and relieve Dhaka's sporting pressures by taking decentralisation acts. It is time to the Sports Ministry of the country to look into the matter so that Mymensingh can organise national as well as international sports.
E-mail: iftuahmed@sbcglobal.net
Nation has forgotten the glory of Mymensingh sports! During British-India (1757-1947), Calcutta Mohun Began Athletic Club was established in 1889. It was the first Indian club that defeated East Yorkshire Regiment, the European club by 2-1 and lifted the first-ever 1911 Indian Football Association (IFA) Shield. Avilash Ghosh of Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club was then the centre forward of Calcutta Mohun Began Athletic Club.
Muslims are a nation. For political identity, Calcutta Mohammedan Sporting Club was born in 1891. In 1887, Calcutta Mohammedan Sporting Club was known as Jubilee Club under the leadership of Nawab Amirul Islam. Later Jubilee Club came to Crescent Club. The Crescent Club changed to Hamidia Club and finally, Hamidia Club transformed to Calcutta Mohammedan Sporting Club.
Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club was founded in 1898 after seven years of Calcutta Mohammedan Sporting Club. The birth of Calcutta East Bengal Club was in 1920 and Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting Club was in 1936. So, Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club kicked off their mission prior to Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting Club in Bangladesh.
Even though the characteristics of Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club were for separate identity of Muslims and Muslim players, there were no influences of sectarianism in the Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club. At the very outset, many European and English men who were involved with the jute business of Mymensingh, used to play football regularly with Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club. It may be mentioned here that in those days Mymensingh was very famous in the world for jute producing businesses. Besides, Hindu-Muslim players played side by side in the Mymensingh Mohammaden Sporting Club. Kiran Acharya was a noted right out of Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club and he was famous for his attractive corner kicks. Avilash Ghosh, known as Black Giant, Noga De and Davinath etc were skilled footballers of Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club.
In 1901, the Mymensingh Sports Association (MSA) was formed. Its president was the then district magistrate, general secretary was Shri Romonikanta Chowdhury and member was Moharaja Shoshikanta Acharya Chowdhury. In 1956, MSA was transformed to Mymensingh District Sports Association (MDSA).
When Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club was born, there was no local clubs except European Clubs. Later the sports world of Mymensingh was blessed after the creation of Mymensingh Friends Eleven Club in 1901, Panditpara Athletic Club in 1910 and Station Quarters Athletic Club in 1931.
In 1937, Islington Corinthians, the formidable soccer team of England came to Dhaka and played an exhibition match with Dhaka XI, but was defeated by 1-0. Pakhi Sen of Mymensingh scored that historical goal and Mosaraf Hossain Kala of Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club also played in that match. It may be mentioned here that the Islington Corinthians was unbeaten in India and Burma.
In 1938, the Calcutta Mohammedan Sporting Club came to play an exhibition match in Mymensingh with the Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club in the local college ground and the match ended 2-2.
In 1939, the soccer team of Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club participated in the Brabourne Shield of Calcutta and defeated Ceylon XI and Abbas Ali Ahmed was its Chief Official. In the same year, the Mymensingh Friends Eleven Club earned a rare honour to capture the Indian Cup which was equivalent with the IFA Shield.
In 1940, the biggest football tournament was held in Mymensingh between Calcutta Mohammedan Sporting Club and combined Calcutta East Bengal Club, and Calcutta Mohammedan Sporting Club and Calcutta Kalighat Athletic Club through the courtesy of Abbas Ali Ahmed, the general secretary of Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club and Khaja Nuruddin, the general secretary of Calcutta Mohammedan Sporting Club. The Calcutta Mohammedan Sporting Club won in these two exhibition football matches by 1-0.
In 1941, Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club defeated the formidable Panditpara Athletic Club by 3-2 in the MSA Football League Championship. In this game, the remarkable memory was Illias Uddin Ahmed's (the eldest son of Abbas Ali Ahmed) powerful shot from the 22 yards which defeated the goalkeeper of Panditpara Athletic Club.
Panditpara Athletic Club was MSA Football League Champion for 18 years from 1922 through 1939. Besides, the famous Calcutta Mohun Began Athletic Club played several times with the local Panditpara Athletic Club, but was unable to beat the Panditpara Athletic Club. Panditpara Athletic Club was the holder of the famous Surjakanta Shield of Mymensingh several times.
Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club secured most championships in the Mymensingh District Football League since its birth and won the Surjakanta Shield several times, too.
There is a legend about a penalty kick. Illias Uddin Ahmed of Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club kicked the ball so hard that Dipu, the goalkeeper of Panditpara Club who used to play for Calcutta East Bengal Club, grabbed the ball firmly, but flew into the goal net along with the ball and fell senseless. It was a miracle goal and the sense of Dipu returned at 12 a.m. It may be mentioned here that Illias Uddin Ahmed was the first man of Bangladesh who obtained the Bachelor of Physical Education (BPE) degree from the University of Oregon, USA in 1958 and he was the soccer captain of that university.
Those All Indian footballers of Mymensingh who participated in the First Division Football League of Calcutta, known as the birthplace of soccer of India and in the IFA Shield, were Avilash Ghose, Sudhangshu Bose, S Chakraborty, Noni Goswami, Hemanga Mohan Bose, Vanu Datta, M Datta Roy, Rakhal Mujumdar, Pakhi Sen, Ganesh Goes, D Bhowmik, Rajab Ali, D Guha, Abdur Rashid Goda, Suraj Goes, M A Khan, Illias Uddin Ahmed, Suraj Goes Chutku, Chuni Goswami, Tapan Chowdhury and Captain Malay Lahiri.
The Inter District Football of then East Pakistan kicked off in 1951. Mymensingh District XI played in the final in the first three times and won in the Inter District final title in the first and the third times.
Behind the scene who made the glorious contributions for Mymensingh District XI in the then East Pakistan inter District Football Championship were Abdul Hamid, Upen Roy, Chan, Mokbul Hossain, Illias Uddin Ahmed, Dulu Goes, Nepal Chakraborty, Masudul Hasan Jamali, Taibur Rahman Vanu, Girin Master and Mollik.
Mymensingh is the birthplace of not only footballers but also of many fine cricketers and athletes, and many of them played in the national and international levels. Many of Mymensingh Sports writers published sporting articles in the national dailies. Its management skills were so outstanding that even British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) praised Mymensingh sports and cricket turf of Mymensingh Stadium.
Unfortunately, the glory of Mymensingh sports is coming to ebb-tide. The Ministry of Sports can make Mymensingh sports vivid through its suitable projects and schemes, and relieve Dhaka's sporting pressures by taking decentralisation acts. It is time to the Sports Ministry of the country to look into the matter so that Mymensingh can organise national as well as international sports.
E-mail: iftuahmed@sbcglobal.net