It is a huge occasion for Mohammedan Sporting club as they are set to make their debut in Indian Super League against Northeast United on Monday, September 16, 2024. The 133-year-old club (established in 1891), has a rich history and legacy associated with it. Regarded as one of the three giants of Calcutta football (along with East Bengal and Mohun Bagan) Mohammedan Sporting won the first ever Calcutta Football League in 1934. In fact, the club went on to win the league for a record five consecutive times. Post Independence, Mohammedan Sporting became the first Indian club to win a football tournament on foreign soil by lifting the Aga Khan Gold Cup in 1960.
The club had its golden era during the time of former president late Irfan Taher, when they won all major titles in Indian club football from 1980-84. Funds kept coming in with the city’s top businessmen sponsoring the club. In the 1980s the club even received a donation from legendary Bollywood actor Dilip Kumar. Following the success in early ‘80s there was a sudden decline as there was not much success. As a result, city’s top businessmen lost interest to fund the club.
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A historic moment awaits! Mohammedan SC is all set for their first-ever ISL clash against NorthEast United!@MohammedanSC @MSC_hub_
✍️@Rahul_01Girihttps://t.co/2tmuN20lw2
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) September 16, 2024
During the tenure of former secretary Mir Mohammed Omar, the club became part of a vicious cycle of an era of terror that had crept into the Kolkata maidan. Players were scared as they received threats to join the club. Since the mid-1980s there was a shift in the mindset when football centric culture was fostered by officialdom.
Post the Mir Mohammed Omar era, late Sultan Ahmed took over as the club as secretary in 2001. A former MP, Sultan Ahmed was the longest serving president of the club as well. During his tenure, Mohammedan won the Durand Cup in 2013 after 73 years. In the same season, the club also won the IFA Shield after 43 years. It was also during his tenure the club politics was on the rise with his brother late Iqbal Ahmed taking control of the affairs. Current vice-president of the club Qamaruddin Ahmed and secretary Ishtiaque Ahmed were also part of the regime in different capacities.
Under the present club President Amiruddin Bobby, the club saw a sea-change with investors Bunkerhill coming on board in 2018. The Gurugram based sports management company pumped in the money, helping the club gain promotion from I League II to I League. The Black Panthers also won the CFL title in 2021 after a gap of 40 years. But the biggest moment arrived when they won the I League last season and earned a ticket to the ISL.
There was a total overhaul in the mindset of the club officials as they realised that to compete with the other two big city giants they needed to embrace the professional approach. Under Club President Amiruddin Bobby, along with other efficient and professional minded individuals in the likes of Dr Taha Ahmed, the club now has a state-of-the-art tent in the Kolkata Maidan. The football team is being run professionally under Russian Head Coach Andrey Chernyshov. Recently Shrachi Sports also has also on board as a co-investor. With a change in the mindset of the club management, the future of Mohammedan Sporting looks promising.
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