Golden days of Dhaka Football
Dhaka Wanderers Club (DWC) regained the Dhaka First Division Football League title in 1960, even they lost to 1959 Champions Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting Club (DMSC) by a solitary goal in the jam-packed Dhaka Stadium (now Bangabandhu National Stadium.) Ace striker Yakub of DWC was the highest scorer with 32 goals. The soccer league became more excited the following year after Victoria Sporting Club (VSC) had landed Omar and Moosa from Calcutta Mohammedan Sporting Club and Hassan Killer from East Bengal. On the other hand, MSC signed with Abid Hossain and Ghaffur of Calcutta Mohammden Sporting Club, Abdullah of DWC, Abbas, Yusuf Sr and Rasul Box of Karachi Port Trust.
Mohammedan Sporting Club became Champions and Victoria Sporting Club finished second. Abbas became the highest scorer, but the real heroes were Murree, Zaheer, Protap and Bashir. The stadium looked packed each day as the league was more exciting, attractive and beautiful. We remember also the footwork of Kabir, Shah Alam, Ashraf, Raymond, Patrick, Zamboo, Saifuddin, Mintoo, Ranjit, Bolai, Devnath, Samad, Eugene and many other local players.
Some of them may be still alive and some of them are no more. Those who are alive, we request them, to write serially from 1958 to 1990 about the football league matches involving Dhaka Wanderers Club, Dhaka Mohammdean Sporting, Abahani KC, EPIDC, Victoria Sporting, Azad Sporting, PWD, Central Stationery, DC Mills, BG Press, Wari Club, East End Club, EPR, East Pakistan Police and Fire Service.
There are lessons for today’s players.
Abu Musa Khan
Wari, Dhaka
