Former India forward Md Rahmatullah passes away in Los Angeles
Md Rahmatullah, former India forward and Asian Games hero, passed away in Los Angeles at 87 after a prolonged illness. He represented India 12 times, scored five goals, and starred in the 1958 Asian Games. He also excelled with Mohammedan Sporting and Mohun Bagan
Hyderabad: Former international footballer from the city, Md Rahmatullah, passed away in Los Angeles (USA) after a prolonged illness on Wednesday.
Rahmatullah represented India in the Tokyo Asian Games and also played for Mohammedan Sporting and Mohun Bagan.
Former India football captain Shabbir Ali expressed condolences.
One of the foremost forwards of his time, Rahmatullah represented India on 12 occasions, scoring five times for the country. His most famous performance came in the 1958 Asian Games quarterfinal where he scored twice to help India to a 5-2 victory. He made his national team debut against Burma on May 26, 1958.
Condoling Rahmatullah’s death, AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey said: “Mohammed Rahmatullah was a fine forward in his days, a player who has left a lasting mark on Indian football. His contributions to the National Team and his remarkable achievements at the domestic level will always be remembered with great respect. On behalf of the Indian football community, I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and the entire football fraternity. May his soul rest in peace.”
At the domestic level, he won the Santosh Trophy with Bengal in 1958 and 1959. Having played for Mohammedan Sporting from 1957 to 1962, Rahmatullah scored 69 goals for the club, winning the Calcutta Football League, IFA Shield, DCM Trophy, Rovers Cup, the Aga Khan Gold Cup (Dhaka), among other trophies.
He later played for Mohun Bagan in 1963, winning the Calcutta Football League and the Durand Cup that season.