Bollywood has frequently mesmerised their audiences by bringing to the table, real-life stories of legendary persons, be it artists, activists or freedom fighters in the form of biographies on the celluloid. From Bhagat Singh to Mary Kom, the list has been endless. And yet again, another unheard real-life story is about to unfurl, all credits to the talented actor, Ajay Devgn’s upcoming film, Maidaan. Well, the highly-anticipated sports drama, that is set to release on April 10, 2024, is based on the life and works of the legendary Indian football coach, Syed Abdul Rahim. Without any ado, let us delve more onto this inspirational sportsman’s life.
Syed Abdul Rahim, commonly remembered as Rahim Saab in the sports fraternity was a legendary Indian football player. He rose to prominence during the time period of 1950-1963, when he was posted as the coach of the Indian Football team. Due to his effective teaching style and motivational guidance, he was infamously hailed as the ‘architect of the modern Indian football’. Most notably, it was under his tutelage and coaching that the Indian team stunned everyone with its glorious successes at international levels of gaming.
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Syed Abdul Rahim was born in the then-British ruled province of Hyderabad, on August 17, 1909. From the very early years of his life, Abdul displayed keen interest and knack for football. During his graduation at the Osmania University, he represented his college in the team called Eleven Hunters, that included current and previous students of the institution as its members. After completing his education, he began his journey as a teacher in various schools, while simultaneously he earned a diploma in physical education.
As his diploma degree earned him the label of a professional footballer, Rahim went onto play internationally for the first time, as he played for the Dutch Amateur League club in Netherlands. Thereafter, he returned to the country and became one of the pioneer founders of the Hyderabad Football Association in 1939. Through this journey, he became an influential contributor in an all-round development of football in Hyderabad in the 1950s.
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The 1962 Asian Games in India became a benchmark of success in Rahim’s career, as it was under his coaching that the Indian football team scored gold medals. For the unversed, India defeated Iran by 1-0 during the final match in Delhi. It was during this match that Rahim introduced to the world, the first-ever 4-2-4 formation on the field, that was later adopted by various teams across the country.
Apart from his professional achievements in football, not much is known about his personal life, especially the details about his spouse. However, he had a son named Syed Shahid Hakim, who followed his father’s footsteps and became a professional football player. Shahid went on to represent India at the 1960 Summer Olympics and became a recipient of the prestigious Dhyan Chand Award.
Syed Abdul Rahim passed away in 1963, after suffering from cancer over a prolonged period. His legacy, tactics of game play and the ability to score wonders from scarce resources is truly inspirational!
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