Sheikh Kamal and Abahani Club
Sheikh Kamal will be remembered by the people of this country for his outstanding contribution to the development of sports. He established Abahani Limited (formerly Abahani KC) in 1972 and introduced the footballers with the modern technique of football. He hired an European coach for his team to become champions in 1974, edging past traditional power houses like Mohammedan SC, BIDC and Dhaka Wanderers Club.
He did not use his power but merit and creative power in the sports arena, to surge ahead. Though he died in 1975, his team Abahani have become an envious power house in the country’s sports arena. Abahani won Bangladesh League five times, Federation Cup nine times, Dhaka Senior Division Football League 11 times, Bordoloi trophy in India in 2010, and Super Cup in 2011.
Not only in football, the club have magnificent record in other disciplines like hockey and cricket. Abahani Limited is one of the two most popular clubs in he country. Had the country got more sports dedicated personalities like Sheikh Kamal, Bangladesh would have profited much.
Ameer Hamzah
Dhaka
