The Silent Worker

Ali played in 100 internationals and scored 30 goals. He also captained India. In club football he was a shinning star,one of the most valuable strikers in the Kolkata Maidan in the late 70s.

As a coach he won almost every trophy that the Indian football has to offer but didn’t get enough credit for his achievements. Guiding Bengal to Santosh Trophy triumph might bring the 54-year-old to prominence.

Bengal coaches had to sit by and watch as the Goan clubs — Dempo SC and Churchill Brothers — were taking the plaudits and trophies in the last three-four years. In the national championships also Goa dominated. Ali cultivated some talented youngsters and motivated them to reassert Bengal’s dominance in Indian football.

Ali’s football career shaped up in Hyderabad under Abdul Gani. He came to Kolkata after six seasons in Mumbai,in 1978. He made this city his home.

“As a footballer I won every trophy in Indian football and also the Asian Youth Championship in Bangkok in 1974. We became the joint-winners with Iran which I still consider the biggest achievement of my playing career,” Ali told The Indian Express .

After hanging up his boots in 1987,Ali took to coaching. He earned his coaching badges from the Sports Authority of India and then went to Germany for the German Football Association coaching courses in 1990 and 1994. He acquired a degree which is equivalent to ‘trainer A licence’ but,strangely enough,the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) were reluctant to recognise that.

Ali,however,continued to make progress in coaching. He coached in Goa,Mumbai and Kolkata and won tournaments. The best of them came in the 1998-99 season when Salgaocar under his coaching won the National Football League. But Ali rates the Santosh Trophy triumph more highly than his success with the Goan club.

“Santosh Trophy is different from the National League. Here we have to make do with the second rung as top players are no longer interested in Santosh Trophy. This year Bengal hosted the tournament and we were under pressure to end an 11-year title drought. The boys were wonderful,they rose to the challenge,” he said.

Ali has always been modest and maybe this is the reason why his wards love him.

“He (Ali) never loses his dignity,” said Denson Devadas who scored both the goals for Bengal in the Santosh Trophy final.

Ali now has taken up the cudgel to ensure Bengal players get justice. “Bengal players are ignored in the national team. Ishfaq Ahmed,Snehashis Chakraborty,Devadas and Arnab Mondal should be among the national team probables. Hopefully things will change after this (Santosh Trophy) win,” he said.

Notwithstanding his optimism,Bengal’s success could be short-lived. Unlike its Goan counterpart,the Indian Football Association (IFA) is doing very little to unearth talent from the grassroots.

“I have a plan and will sit with the IFA secretary very soon,” says Ali. For Bengal to earn back their lost glory,the state association must build on the momentum. As the newly appointed Calcutta Port Trust Coach,Ali now has the responsibility to look after the supply line.