Football in Hyderabad rekindles its lost glory with ISL title

On the night of Sunday, 20th March, the City of Nizams, renowned for its passionate people and of course, the Biryani, celebrated in unison for its maiden Indian Super League (ISL) title.
Hyderabad FC’s inception in 2019 ushered a new era for football-loving folks in the state. Back in 2019, Hyderabad finished at the bottom in the league. However, when Manolo Marquez took over in the next season, fortunes soon turned.
Under Manolo’s guidance, the club revived its position in the league. By the end of the 2020-21 season, six players received a national team call-up too.
In the latest edition, Hyderabad played as fan favourites since the start. They won eleven games and drew five. While dominating the league, their star striker, Bartholomew Ogbeche, broke records and became the all-time top scorer of ISL.
However, Hyderabad’s success in Indian football is not a new phenomenon. The ISL win is touted as the revival of Hyderabad’s lost legacy in Indian football. There was a time when Andhra Pradesh supplied the best talent. During the golden era of 1950-70s, the Indian football team became one of the best in Asia, comprising many talented players from Andhra Pradesh.
The factory for Indian football during its Golden era
Often, discussions related to the powerhouses of Indian football have Kolkata, Goa, North-East, Kerala in the list, but one of the names that get overlooked is Hyderabad.
Hyderabad was once the cradle of Indian football comprising the finest of coaches, players and clubs. In 1939, when the Hyderabad Football Association (HFA) was formed, it birthed clubs like Hyderabad Police Club (HPC) a.k.a ‘City Afghans’. The HPC was India’s best club back in time.
Since its inception, Hyderabad Police Club has been a dominant force with renowned names. They won the Ashe Gold Cup beating the Royal Air Force and often outplayed famous names like Mohun Bagan and other teams in competitions.
The father of Hyderabad football
If one talks about the golden era of football in Hyderabad, and its most recognized outfit, the name that cannot be forgotten is that of Syed Abdul Rahim, aka Rahim Saab. Rahim Saab played an instrumental role in promoting football in the state. He started as a player but earned recognition in his later years as a coach.
He managed Hyderabad Police Club from 1943, and his team’s dominance across the country earned him a national call-up. Rahim Saab’s dominance was not restricted to club football. He led the Indian football team to massive heights.
Under his tutelage, the Indian football team achieved the Asian Games Gold medal in 1951 and 1962, finished fourth in the Melbourne Olympics in 1956. The team consisted of the likes of Chuni Goswami, P.K. Banerjee, Tulsidas Balaram, Peter Thangaraj, Jarnail Singh, Prasanta Sinha, Arun Ghosh, Ram Bahadur, SK Azizuddin, and several others. Rahim Saab’s philosophy and tactics equipped the Indian football team to become one of the best teams in Asia.
However, when Rahim Saab succumbed to cancer in 1963, Hyderabad’s footballing fate got buried with him. Last year, a film named ‘Maidaan’ which starred Ajay Devgn as Rahim Saab hit the screens and narrated his entire story.
After his passing, the Hyderabad Police Club struggled to retain talent and eventually perished. Until 2019, Hyderabad FC lacked representation in the top tier of Indian football. The other teams that mushroomed in the city too lost their glory.
But, as the saying goes, without failure, there’s no success. Just like the Golden era, the Indian Super League title win has breathed fresh air for football lovers in Hyderabad. It remains to be seen how the community comes together and rechristens the folklore.
For Trial related updates: Latest trials updates in Mumbai Football
Also Read: 7 new faces as Stimac names final list of 25 for friendlies in Bahrain
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for all the latest happenings in the world of Indian football
Staikos Vergetis appointed new Head Coach for RoundGlass Punjab FC
RoundGlass Punjab FC is delighted to announce the appointment of Staikos Vergetis as Head Coach for the forthcoming Hero I-League 2022-23 season. Forty-six-year-old Vergetis hails from Greece and has nearly a decade’s experience working as a…
Manisha, Sunil named 2021-22 AIFF Footballers of the Year
NEW DELHI: Manisha Kalyan and Sunil Chhetri have been named as the 2021-22 AIFF Women’s Footballer of the Year, and the 2021-22 Men’s Footballer of the Year, respectively. The two stalwarts…
RoundGlass Punjab FC announces squad for Punjab Super League 2022
Mohali, August 12: RoundGlass Punjab FC is all set to begin its Punjab State Super Football League 2022 campaign with its first match on Tuesday, August 16, against Jagat Singh Palahi…
FC Goa names 26-member squad for Durand Cup 2022
The Gaurs are the defending champions of the Durand Cup Mumbai, August 10, 2022: Four first team players – Hrithik Tiwari, Muhammed Nemil, Phrangki Buam and Ayush Chhetri – will…
FC Goa announces T10 Sports as new Kit Partner
The brands have signed a long-term deal Goa, August 9, 2022: FC Goa is delighted to announce T10 Sports as the Club’s official kit supplier, signing a multi-year deal with…
Blue Tigers to play International Friendlies against Singapore, Vietnam
NEW DELHI: The Senior Men’s Indian Football Team will be back in action in September, when they play two International Friendlies against Singapore and Vietnam. The Blue Tigers will travel to…
Deggie Cardozo: No ‘added’ pressure in Durand Cup as defending champions
Goa, August 11, 2022: FC Goa won the hearts of fans last year with their stellar performances in the Durand Cup. Braving the odds, the Gaurs wrapped up their Durand…
WIFA Women's Championship / WIFA Women's Football League
WIFA Women’s Football League: Kolhapur Warriors Beat Kenkre In Tournament Opener
The opening game of the WIFA Women’s Football League saw Kolhapur Warriors beat Kenkre FC 3-1 kicking off their campaign with all three points The early morning fixture of Day…
WIFA Women's Championship / WIFA Women's Football League
WIFA Women’s Football League: Sasmita strikes three as PIFA kick off title defence in style
Match 2 of the WIFA Women’s Football league saw, defending champions PIFA Sports kicking off their campaign in style with a 5-0 win over Puneri Warriors The defending champions PIFA’s…
WIFA Women's Championship / WIFA Women's Football League
WIFA Women’s Football League: Aspire FC blows apart lawless United with a 4-0 win
Pune-based Aspire FC kicked off their WIFA WFL campaign with a convincing 4-0 win over Lawless United of Palghar Aspire kicked off the proceeding and took control of the game…
OSCAR SSE to conduct trials for Youth I League and YPL team in the U13 category in Mumbai
Mumbai-based OSCAR SSE will conduct trials for their Youth I League and YPL team on 16th and 17th July 2022 at Wings Sports Centre ground. Oscar SSE is a 2-star…
ROQS to host trials for MFA Super Division
ROQS is revamping their squad for the upcoming season of the MFA Super Division. The team is organising trials for the men’s football team on Monday, 11th of July, 2022….
MSP Academy is holding trials for the upcoming MFA Youth League
MFA Super Division club Mumbai Soccer Prodigies will be conducting trials for their MFA Youth League campaign on 22nd May 2022 in Bandra, Mumbai. Founded in 2006, the Mumbai Soccer…
Mumbai Football / Recommended / Trials
Football School of India to conduct Youth Trials
Mumbai-based Football School of India is going to conduct youth trials for its boys and girls squads. The trials will be conducted for players in the age group of under-13…
Bengaluru FC Elite Youth Football Trials
Bengaluru Football Club is a professional club that competes in the Indian Super League (ISL) and are past champions of the I-League and ISL. The club has launched its Soccer…
D’Souza Football Academy to conduct Youth Trials
Mumbai-based D’Souza Football Academy is going to conduct football scholarship trials for its youth squads. The trials will be conducted for players in the age group of under-7 to under-15….
Oscar SSE to conduct trials for Youth I-League in U13, U15&U18 category in Mumbai
OSCAR SSE, an AIFF Accredited Academy invites all U13, U15 & U18 players from ALL SOCIO-ECONOMIC backgrounds for football trials to join our Elite teams to train round the year…
Elite Division / MDFA / Recommended / Trials
Air India to conduct senior team trials for MFA Elite League on Monday
Mumbai-based Air India FC is set to conduct trials for their Senior Team to play the MFA Elite (Corporate) Division. One of the top-tier clubs from Mumbai – Air India…
MDFA / Mumbai Football / Recommended / Trials
Air India to hold youth team trials on Monday
Mumbai-based Air India FC is set to conduct trials for their Youth Team for the MFA Super (Corporate) Division. One of the top-tier clubs from Mumbai – Air India will…
MDFA / Recommended / Trials
Bhaichung Bhutia’s Residential Academy set to conduct trials in Mumbai
16th March, 2022: Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools (BBFS) will conduct Residential Academy trials in Maharashtra for the academic year 2022-23. In the next few months, the trials will be organized…