Ajay Devgan’s latest movie Maidaan finally makes its debut at the box office on Thursday, April 11.
The movie is based on the Indian football icon, Syed Abdul Rahim, who is also known as the architect of modern Indian football. Syed Rahim was a former player and coach of the Indian National Football team from 150 up until his demise in 1963.
#Maidaan Official IMAX Poster. pic.twitter.com/JdzxHuwwpB
— Nishit Shaw (@NishitShawHere) March 29, 2024
Syed Rahim was also a coach for the Hyderabad City Police FC and won two silverware for them in the form of Santosh Trophy, defeating the then Bombay team in two consecutive finals. Rahim’s tenure in Indian football is also considered the sport’s ‘golden age’ in our country’s diverse history.
Syed Rahim became the manager of the Indian National Football team in 1950, the same year wherein India declined the offer to play in the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
Rahim worked on the Indian team diligently and within a year arrived the Asian games of 1951. India beat Iran in the gold medal match by a scoreline of 1-0, clinching its first ever silverware in the domain of Football.
Rahim introduced the classic 4-2-4 formation much before its popularization by the Brazil national team in the 1958 FIFA World Cup. Rahim managed the Indian team in his final major tournament at the 1962 Asian games. Being one of the most formidable teams in Asia by then, the Indians defeated South Korea in a 2-0 victory to clinch another gold medal.
After Rahim’s passing in 1963, Indian National team coach Alberto Fernando visited Brazil for a football workshop in 1964 wherein the latter revealed that what was being taught in Brazil then was already taught to him by Syed Rahim back in 1956, further stating that he was the Prophet of Indian football.
PLAY: Make your fantasy picks and win big prizes with Dafa News' exclusive fantasy IPL game
