https://sputniknews.in/20231012/meet-mohammad-abdullah-kashmirs-oldest-football-coach-4762828.html
Meet Mohammad Abdullah, Kashmir’s Oldest Football Coach
Meet Mohammad Abdullah, Kashmir’s Oldest Football Coach
Sputnik India
Mohammad Abdullah Dar is an 84-year-old resident of Jammu and Kashmir’s summer capital Srinagar. He has a small football academy in the city where he trains young children for free after being associated with the sport for more than seven decades.
2023-10-12T21:37+0530
2023-10-12T21:37+0530
2023-10-12T21:37+0530
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As a young teenager, Mohammad Abdullah Dar, like most of Kashmir’s population was passionate about cricket. He was selected in his schools’ cricket team as a wicketkeeper.But seeing Dar’s fielding prowess, his teammates suggested he pursue football instead and play as a goalkeeper.This was the beginning of Dar’s over seven-decade-long journey of devoutness to the most popular sport in the world.Now at the age of 84, Dar is the oldest football coach in the Kashmir region and easily one of the oldest in the world.Dar trains children free of cost and has continued to do so since the year 2000, when he retired as the official football coach at the prestigious University of Kashmir.Lifetime PassionDar talks of the game with a great amount of affection. His whole childhood is enveloped with memories of football. From purchasing a radio set to listen to commentary on live football matches, or his parents supporting his career despite almost an absent sports culture, the game is part of who Dar is.Dar would shut his eyes while hearing the radio set. “I could see him play while listening. He was glorious”, said Dar while talking about the Brazilian great.Laboratory Assistant Who Turned Football CoachAs a young man Dar, secured a government job as a laboratory assistant and would only play football during his free time, mostly for college teams, local clubs, and official teams of various government departments. It was not a career for him. But his love for football was no secret to his colleagues.One day in 1976, the principal of the college where Dar was called him to his office and offered him an opportunity. Dar, then 35, had already lessened playing football, but the University of Kashmir had decided to hire someone to take over the sports scene on campus.For the next 24 years Dar trained thousands of youth across Jammu and Kashmir. From schools, to colleges, his coaching skills became legendary.He played in tournaments across the region and the country. Even as several of his trained players went on to play in pan-India level tournaments, Dar’s own dreams remained elusive.Bumps in RoadAnother factor for the average performance of Kashmiri football is the lack of proper infrastructure to develop the sport. It is only in the last few years that football club matches have been receiving sufficient attention from business sponsors and the government, which facilitates the tournaments.In 2000, when Dar retired, the situation wasn’t as good. That is when he decided to train children, several of whom went on to become professional players.From 2000 to 2019, Dar trained children informally. Four years ago, he finally managed to establish a small academy of his own associated with the historic Amar Singh College.
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Kashmir’s Oldest Football Coach
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Kashmir’s Oldest Football Coach
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Meet Mohammad Abdullah, Kashmir’s Oldest Football Coach
Mohammad Abdullah Dar is an 84-year-old resident of Jammu and Kashmir’s summer capital Srinagar. After playing football for seven decades, Dar coaches children for free.
As a young teenager, Mohammad Abdullah Dar, like most of Kashmir’s population was passionate about cricket. He was selected in his schools’
cricket team as a wicketkeeper.
But seeing Dar’s fielding prowess, his
teammates suggested he pursue football instead and play as a goalkeeper.
This was the beginning of Dar’s over seven-decade-long journey of devoutness to the most popular sport in the world.
Now at the age of 84, Dar is the oldest
football coach in the Kashmir region and easily one of the oldest in the world.
“My desire is to do this (coach) till the day I die. That’s what my heart wants”, Dar said while training a group of children at a football ground located in Srinagar.
Dar trains children free of cost and has continued to do so since the year 2000, when he retired as the official football coach at the prestigious University of Kashmir.
“Several teams and clubs invite to coach their players. I don’t refuse but what I truly love is to teach football at a grassroots level. That is why I like to train children and instill in them the love for the greatest sport in the world”, Dar told Sputnik India.
Dar talks of the game with a great amount of affection. His whole childhood is enveloped with memories of football. From purchasing a radio set to listen to commentary on live football matches, or his parents supporting his career despite almost an absent sports culture, the game is part of who Dar is.
“My cousin used to sell radio sets. I saved some money and bought one from him. I used to listen to football commentary when I was young and that is when I first heard of my hero King Pele”, said Dar.
Dar would shut his eyes while hearing the radio set. “I could see him play while listening. He was glorious”, said Dar while talking about the
Brazilian great.Laboratory Assistant Who Turned Football Coach
As a young man Dar, secured a government job as a laboratory assistant and would only play football during his free time, mostly for college teams, local clubs, and official teams of various government departments. It was not a career for him. But his love for football was no secret to his colleagues.
One day in 1976, the principal of the college where Dar was called him to his office and offered him an opportunity. Dar, then 35, had already lessened playing football, but the University of Kashmir had decided to hire someone to take over the sports scene on campus.
For the next 24 years Dar trained thousands of youth across Jammu and Kashmir. From schools, to colleges, his coaching skills became legendary.
He played in
tournaments across the region and the country. Even as several of his trained players went on to play in pan-India level tournaments, Dar’s own dreams remained elusive.
“We have harsh winters in Kashmir because of which players are not able to train throughout the year. There is a reason many of the teams from here manage to reach semis but end up winning finals”, Dar said.
Another factor for the average performance of Kashmiri football is the lack of proper infrastructure to develop the sport. It is only in the last few years that football club matches have been receiving sufficient attention from business sponsors and the government, which facilitates the tournaments.
In 2000, when Dar retired, the situation wasn’t as good. That is when he decided to train children, several of whom went on to become professional players.
Humayun Ahmed is one of them. “I am coaching at my own club now but still sometimes I visit him (Dar)”.
From 2000 to 2019, Dar trained children informally. Four years ago, he finally managed to establish a small academy of his own associated with the historic Amar Singh College.
“I will coach till my body permits me. Even at this age parents who have heard of me send their children. Both boys and girls. This tells me I need to go on”, Dar said.
