Mohammed Salim

Mohammed Salim

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Category: Sports & Games

Mohammed Salim Profile

  • Name:
  • Mohammed Salim
  • Died:
  • November 5, 1980

Mohammed Salim Biography

Mohammed Salim was an Indian footballer from Kolkata who lived during 1904 – 5 November 1980. This legend was the first Indian footballer to play abroad and was a right winger in his playing days. He was a member of Mohammedan SC team which claimed five successive Calcutta Football League titles. He became the first player from the Indian sub-continent to play for a European club, when he was signed for Celtic FC. Only three more Indian players have been able to play for any European club later, the latest one being Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. Mohammed Salim was active in the game of football during British raj, and played barefoot.

 

Mohammed Salim was born in 1904 in Kolkata, West Bengal during British rule. He belonged to Metiaburuz, a lower-middle-class locality in Calcutta. He was not at all interested in academic studies. But he displayed great footballing skill from childhood, and he showed more interest in this game than his studies. When nationalist movements for freedom struggle reached its highest octaves in the 1920s and 1930s, many took to football to answer British jibes that Indians were incapable of home rule. They played barefoot against British and defeated them to show that Indians are not inferior.

 

Salim joined Chittaranjan Club of Bowbazar, Central Calcutta. He was spotted by Pankaj Gupta, Bengal's legendary sports administrator, who recruited Salim to play for his club Sporting Union. He played a season with East Bengal Club and then moved to Aryans club. Salim rejoined Mohammedan Sporting Club in 1934, and played a magnificent role in bringing 5 league titles for his team. After the title win of 1936, Salim was invited to play in two exhibition matches against the Chinese Olympic side.

 

His exceptional talent was spotted by Hasheem of England, who recommended his name for European football. Salim gave a demonstration barefooted before 1,000 club members and three registered coaches, and his ability astonished them. It also earned him a place for upcoming Alliance matches. Salim made his debut in a 5–1 victory against Hamilton Accies, thus becoming the first player from the Indian sub-continent to play for a European club. On 28 August 1936, he helped Celtic win 7–1 against Galston, which created headlines in newspapers.

 

Published: November 25, 2018

Updated: November 25, 2018

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