At a wedding reception in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, nearly a decade ago, one of the guests struck up a conversation with me. “You’re from Calcutta, so you must know Mohammad Farid,” he said. “He’s my first cousin—and he was a footballer.”
When I told him that Farid, now 58, had been among the most popular footballers of the 1980s and early ’90s, he looked genuinely surprised.
He admitted that the family had never really followed Farid’s career, largely because there wasn’t much interest in football at home.
Not just him—in fact, most people outside Calcutta either never knew or have long forgotten this unassuming former attacking midfielder.
One reason is the near absence of material about him online, barring a few yellowed pages of old Bengali football magazines.
Farid began his senior career with Hyderabad City Police in 1974 and played there until 1977 before moving to Calcutta.
Despite enjoying a glittering career with Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting, he chose to remain away from the limelight after retirement. He finally hung up his boots in 2000, representing his office team, the Food Corporation of India (FCI).
The purpose of this blog is to chronicle his 19-year journey in Calcutta football and to introduce a new generation to a gutsy, skilful player who holds a rare distinction—Mohammad Farid was the last footballer from Hyderabad to represent all three of Calcutta’s iconic clubs.
His fans in Bengal still remember his last-minute goal
against Nepal in the 1987 SAF Games football final while some post old
photographs from some of his outstanding performances on the Facebook.
Farid also represented
the country at the Kings Cup (Bangkok, 1981), UAE friendlies matches (Dubai, 1981),
Presidents Cup (Seoul, 1982), Asian Games (New Delhi, 1982), Nehru Cup
(Calicut, 1986) and SAF Games (Calcutta, 1987).
in 1981, but met him for the first time last year at our common relative’s
place at Mehdipatnam, Hyderabad.
the 1982 Asian Games. The preparation had started two years before at the
insistence of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The camp was held at Salt
Lake Stadium. We were put up at Karunamayee,” said Farid, who was born on July
7, 1959.
grit and determination were his assets on the field.
a south Calcutta flat where I was offered to join them. Later, they kept me at
Hotel Bliss at Ekdalia Road. They released me only after I had signed a
contract. I was just 20 then.”
was lucky to have played alongside star Hyderabadis Mohammad Habib (in EB),
Victor Amalraj (EB, MS and MB) and Shabbir Ali (MS).
top catch for all the clubs in those golden years in Calcutta.
switched to Bagan the next year,” he said.
his best stint at the green and maroon club.
Those three years were the most enjoyable one in my career.
I’ve had a very good experience at Bagan. I won’t ever forget Mr Dhiren Dey’s
love and respect for the players.
used to address me as ‘Mr Farid’. There was no delay in payment and the club
used to give me to-and-fro airfare to Hyderabad. It was a huge encouragement,” reminisced
Farid, who rejoined Mohammedan in 1987 on a five-year contract.
between his job at FCI and, in the evening gives free coaching at Salt Lake’s
DL Block to poor kids from Keshtopur since 1992.
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