New Delhi: Mohammed Taqi, a legendary Mohammedan Sporting fan and former player of leading Delhi football club Indian Nationals FC, died after a fall in house in Chitli Qabar, Old Delhi on Wednesday. His death marks the end of an era, an Indian football fan that followed his club all over the country and knew more about Mohammedan Sporting than Barcelona or Manchester United.
As a youngster, Taqi had witnessed the 1940 Durand final in which Mohammedan Sporting beat Royal Warwickshire regiment 2-1 and became the first Indian team to win the Durand tournament. He could recall every player of that 1940 side and was a fund of stories. He travelled all over India watching Mohammedan Sporting play. He could narrate the names of all their legendary sides.
Taqi had two great ambitions - to watch Mohammedan Sporting win the Durand tournament again and for his local club Indian Nationals to win the Delhi Soccer Association (DSA) League. The second ambition was fulfilled when Indian Nationals won back to back titles in 1999 and 2000.But much to his sadness Mohammedan Sporting has never won the Durand tournament after 1940. They were runners up in 1959, 1980 and 1992. However in Delhi they won the DCM tournament on several occasions, the last being in 1980 when their star-studded team surprised Bank of Seoul and Trust Company of South Korea 1-0 in the final.
Taqi was self employed and was a willing volunteer for the DSA on many occasions. He had a booming voice and was used to travel all around Old Delhi on a cycle rickshaw announcing important matches to be played at the Ambedkar Stadium. His other passion was mushaairas and he was a minor Urdu poet himself. He was unmarried and stayed in his sister's house.
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