Mohammed Habib, the goalkeeping legend that was praised by the greatest footballer Pele himself, during the time they had a showoff in the early 70s, has passed away at age 74, leaving a void of the exact depth that PK Banerjee did when he passed away a few years earlier. The two were lethally talented on the field, with their hawklike precision and swanlike grace( Habib was later on managed by Banerjee, who was just as charismatic a leader as well as a player)
These two men were to India the representatives of what the 1992 dream team was to American Basketball. Both were personifications of the levels of excellence that could be reached in teamsports and at the same time, this glory had a very sour anticlimax in the way that it could never be duplicated again. Only a handful of men had the rare privilege of witnessing it, creating it and like an antique heirloom, putting it on display for other generations.
Habib played 35 international matches, scoring 11 legendary goals in the process, starting from the beginning of 1967, when he debuted in Kuala Lumpur. His nimble footwork earned him a place in the holy triumvirate- The Mohammedan Sporting Club, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, which are arch competitors for each other and while a lesser player would have invited flak for changing loyalties so frequently, but for a player of his standing, the aura shone brighter.
The Santosh trophy graced his cabinet 5 times from the years 1965-1975, as well as the Durand Cup, the exceptional distinction of winning the Calcutta Football League 10 times and the Rover Cup a total of 7 times. All this contributed majorly earning him the laurel the first professional player of the country. He was further awarded the East Bengal Bharat Gaurav Award for his achievements in 2016.
He further coached future generations in his previous clubs as well as the Tata Football Academy and the Indian Football Association Academy, maintaining the grace he had earned during his tenure on the field and in public life.
Here’s to a rare talent.