Dilip Kumar (left) introduced to footballers from East Bengal and Indian heavyweight clubs Mohun Bagan, during a Chief Guest ritual at the former Rovers Cup tournament in Mumbai.
Image credit: photo provided
Calcutta: News of actor Dilip Kumar’s death on Wednesday left India in mourning – and some of Indian football’s mainstays were not immune to it. His passion for the beautiful game was well known as he was a regular at Mumbai’s Cooperage Stadium during the Rovers Cup – a top notch tournament which has now been put on hold.
Yusuf Khan, as he was originally called, was also a boss of Mohammedan Sporting Club, then one of the country’s three footballing superpowers of Kolkata – along with Mohun Bagan and East Bengal.
Subrata Bhattacharya, former international defender and famous coach who was also part of the Indian squad that played in the 1984 AFC Asian Cup, recalled with emotion his chance encounters with the dean of Indian cinema. “Dilip saab was extremely passionate about football. On the pitch, when it comes to a game as a guest of honor, we don’t talk much. But I had also met him a few times off the field and he loved discussing the game with us, ”Bhattacharya recalls in a conversation with AIFF.com.
“I remember he was a frequent visitor to Rovers Cup games. He had also come to the final of the Santosh Trophy in Kashmir (1978-79). “
Off the pitch, Bhattacharya had met Dilip Kumar on several occasions in different studio settings and the former defender recalled the movie star’s humility. “I went to meet him a few times when I was in Bombay (not Mumbai then), the Himalayas and Nataraj Studios. The first time I went there he came up to me and said in a loving way ‘Aise khada kyun hain? (Why are you here.) “He took me to see the director and introduced me:” Bada player hai, India ke liye khelta hai. Isse Baithne does. (He’s a great player, he plays for India. Let’s find him a place to sit) ‘. ”
“He was truly one of those pure hearted people. There was no wickedness in man. It is a huge loss for India, ”said Bhattacharya.
Subhash Bhowmick, a member of India’s 1970 Asian Games bronze medalist team, was himself a huge fan of Dilip Kumar’s films – Mughal-e-Azam (1960), Ganga Jamuna (1961) were two of the many films by Dilip Kumar that had captivated Bhowmick.
“It was an honor to see such a great superstar come to our games. Not only the club matches, but he was also a strong follower of the national team, ”he recalled. “It’s a huge loss for the world of art and culture. He was one of the first real superheroes in Indian cinema, ”said Bhowmick.
Prasanta Banerjee, another former Indian captain, recalled Dilip Kumar as someone who loved the game “with all his heart”.
“I had met him for the first time during the Rovers Cup when he was the guest of honor in the 1980 final (East Bengal against Mohammedan Sporting). Later, when I was playing for Mohammedan Sporting, he also visited the club a few times and we had several discussions, ”Banerjee recalls. “When I was able to chat with him I understood his love for football. He knew me by name. For me it was a great honor – he was such a legend.”
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